WBB 2023-24 AAC Games

[1972Shocker]

Wichita State Picks Up First Road Win, Defeats FAU, 67-56

Four Shockers finished in double figures, led by Daniela Abies's seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Jayla Murray put up a career-high 15 points, and Salese Blow and Raissa Nsabua finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Wichita State (7-17, 3-9 AAC) forced 18 Owl turnovers and scored 21 points off those turnovers while only committing nine turnovers..

Abies was held to just four first-half points but found a way to overcome the double team in the second half with 11 second-half points and four assists.

"The great thing about Dani is she's a willing passer,

In the third quarter, FAU increased their lead to seven, before back-to-back buckets by Blow, a fast break layup by Nsabua and a rebound basket by Abies put the Shockers back on top.

The Owls took the lead right back, though, as leading scorer Mya Perry hit two-consecutive threes to put them up five.

Sierra Morrow responded with a Shocker three, and Wichita State held the Owls scoreless through the final three minutes of the quarter to head into the final quarter up two.

The Wichita State defense continued to get stops as the Owls didn't score again until the 7:23 mark of the fourth quarter.

Another Perry three tied the game with 6:35 remaining, but the Shockers made 11 free throws down the stretch to close out the game. The Shocks finished 15-21 at the free thrown line to only 4-8 for FAU.

---

This win probably doesn't mean a lot in the whole scheme of things but I think the Ladies needed this win for the psyches. It did allow the Shocks to move out of sole possession of last place and into a 3-way tie for 12th at the bottom of the league with FAU and Tulane.

A big factor in this game is that FAU was without their best player Aniya Hubbard who had 21 points in FAU's win over the Shocks in Wichita.

[1972Shocker]

WICHITA STATE (7-17, 3-9 AAC) at FLORIDA ATLANTIC (14-11, 6-6 AAC)
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 | 6 p.m. CT
Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TV: ESPN+ with Leah Secondo and Jim Louk
Radio: Audacy.com/KFH with Steve Strain

SCOUTING THE BULLS
> Led by 24^th-year head coach Jose Fernandez, the Bulls are coming off back-to-back losses to Rice and Temple.
> The Bulls are 9-4 at home with their losses coming from NC State, Charlotte (OT), North Texas and Rice.
> Two Bulls are averaging double-digit scoring with freshman Vittoria Blasigh leading the team with 14.4 points per game and Romi Levy averaging 13.5.
> Blasigh ranks second amongst NCAA freshmen in total three-pointers made with 65.
> Evelien Schipholt Lutje leads the team in rebounding with 8.0 per game, ranking sixth in the conference.
> The Bulls lead the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.74) and turnovers per game (14.1) and rank second in scoring defense (59.7).
> Blasigh leads the conference in three point attempts and ranks second in made three with 65. Aerial Wilson ranks third in the conference in total assists with 108.
> South Florida was picked to win the American Athletic Conference in the preseason poll and currently sits in eighth.

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I am heading out to Pretty Prairie this evening as it's senior night for my grandson. I can probably listen to the 1st half on the radio and follow the 2nd half to to degree on live stats but I probably won't be home until about 10:00 pm.

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The way the AAC Tournament is set up this year is that the bottom 4 seeds play on Saturday.

The two winners from the 1st round are joined by the 5th through 10th seeds for 4 games in round 2 on Sunday.

The 3 round 2 winners are joined by the top 4 seeds on Monday.for the quarterfinals.

The 4 winners of the quarter finals play in the Semifinals on Tuesday with the winners meeting in the championship game on Wednesday.

So the bottom 4 seeds, which as of now are Memphis, Tulane, FAU and Wichita State, only need to win 5 games in 5 days to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

The Men follow the same format except with their first round games on the same day as the women's championship game.

---

The Shockers appear to be heading towards a bottom 4 finish unless their season turns around in a big way over the final 6 games and I have seen no indication of that happening.

Just making it to day 3 would be a huge accomplishment for any of these bottom 4 teams let alone winning 5 games in 5 days. This tournament is set up in a very favorable way for the Top 4 seeds.

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USF's roster took a big blow early in the season. Sammie Puisis, a 6-1 Sr. guard who transferred from Florida State, was last year's AAC newcomer of the year. She injured her left knee in the preseason but was able to work her way back and played 22 minutes in a game against Gardner-Webb on Sunday, December 10th in which she put up 21 points. However, in a practice the following Wednesday she tore the ACL in her left knee and is out for the season. She can come back nest year.

USF's leading scorer, 20-year old freshman Vittoria Blasigh is a stout 5-9 guard from Italy. She was a good player for Italy's 2023 U19 World Cup team averaging 16.9 ppg over 7 games. Niassa Nsabua and perhaps Ornella Niankan matchup best against Blasigh. They need to stay with her and not help off of her but you don't want to foul her either as she is an 84.2% free throw shooter. She does seem to run a bit hot and cold. In the 7 games she score 20 or more points she is averaging 25.9 ppg. In her other 18 games she is averaging 10 ppg. So the Shocks need to make sure she does not go off on them. She is coming of an 0-8 (0-5) shooting performance in a loss at Temple. I'm sure Coach Nooner has looked at that tape to see how Temple played her.

USF's center, 6-3 R-Jr. Romi Levy out of Israel might actually be a tougher matchup for the Shocks. Levy can stretch the floor a little bit as she is 19-58 (32.8%) from 3-point range. She might be a handful for the Shockers smaller post players, 6-0 Dani Abies, 6-1 Jayla Murry and 6-1 Sierra Morrow. I expect all 3 will get a chance to see how they can defend Levy.

Looks like that in most games 6-2 Sr. Evelien Lutje Schipholt starts alongside the 6-3 Levy. Off the bench USF can bring in 6-3 and 6-2 as well.

Ariel Wilson, a 5-10 R-Sr out of Canada doesn't look to score much as she is only shooting 21.8% from the filed but she is a good free throw shooter at 77.8% but has only gotten to the line 9 times on the season. She however is a very good facilitator and has 108 assists vs 54 turnovers on the season. And at 5-10 she will have height advantage vs the Shocks at that position.

It appears the size advantage goes to USF in this game, which is usually the case with the Shockers.

USF is only 3-5 over their last 8 games. In those 8 games they are only averaging 59.5 ppg. in the 5 losses they averaged 56.2 ppg. So they are not exactly coming into this game on a roll.

[1972Shocker]

This one did not go well at all for for the Shocks who got off to a horrendous start. USF led by 29 at 40-11 midway through the 2nd quarter and finished the half up 25 at 45-25. USF continued to pour it on leading by 35 at 66-31 with 1 minute left in the 3rd quarter. The Shockers did make it a liitle more respectable outscoring USF 22-13 over the final 11 minutes, no doubt against the bottom of USF's bench, to make the final score 57-79. USF jumped out to an 11-0 lead the first 4.5 minutes of the game and never looked back.

USF used their size advantage to take Dani Abies out of the game holding her to 6 points on 2-8 from the field and 2-3 from the line. Dani did lead the Shocks in rebounding with with 8 but as a team USF totally dominated the boards 46-28 overall and 12-7 on the offensive boards. Salese Blow, Jayla Murray and Sierra Morrow each scored 11 points to lead the Shockers. Tre'zure Job left the game with 8:20 with what sounded like an ankle injury and did not return. She was scoreless in her 9 minutes of play missing all 6 of her shot attempts.

In my pregame notes I speculated that USF's 6-3 center, Romi Levy, might be a tough match up for the Shocks. That proved to be the case as she led USF with 28 points including 3-4 on three pointers and 11-12 free throws while tying Dani for game high in rebounds with 8, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 2 blocks and 3 steals.

USF was 21-25 from the line vs 7-12 for the Shocks.

[1972Shocker]

TULSA (18-7, 8-4 AAC) at WICHITA STATE (7-18, 3-10 AAC)
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 | 2 p.m. CT
Wichit, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
TV: ESPN+ with Shane Dennis and Tracey Anderson
Radio: GoShockers.com/Listen with Steve Strain

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN HURRICANE
> Tulsa is 4-5 on the road this season, dropping their last two road games to Rice and East Carolina.
> Two players are averaging double-digit scoring with Temira Poindexter leading the team with 20.4 points per game and Delanie Crawford averaging 18.5.
> Poindexter has recorded three 30-plus point games this season and leads the conference in field goal attempts, field goals made and points per game. She ranks second in the conference in blocks.
> Hadley Periman leads the team in rebounding with 6.8 per game.
> Crawford ranks second in the conference in points per game, .three pointers made and free throw percentage.
> The Golden Hurricane lead the conference in three point attempts per game and rank second in three pointers per game (8.2) defensive rebounds per game (29.1) and field goal percentage defense (37.0).
> Tulsa was picked seventh in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll and currently sits in third with Temple, 1 game out of 1st and a half game out of 2nd behind North Texas and Rice.

---

Tulsa jumped out to a 56-33 lead at the half against the Shocks in Tulsa before cruising to a 93-70 win over the Shocks on January 20th. In that game Temira Poindexter (31 points), Delanie Crawford (19 points) Amira Brown (19 points) and Ahrray Young (18 points) combined for 87 of Tulsa's 93 points.

Brown only averages 4.3 PPG with the 19 she scored in January against the Shocks being by far her best outing In fact, her next high game of the season is 7 points on a few occasions.

Young, who was averaging about 10 PPG appear to have been injured against Rice in the game following the win of over the Shockers in January as she only played 5 minutes and scored 2 points against Rice and has not played since.

Tulsa likes to play at an up-tempo pace and outscore you but they have laid a few eggs in AAC play losing 48-58 to Temple at home, 52-68 at South Florida and 48-56 at East Carolina.

Hopefully, if Young is still out and Brown plays more to her norm, the Shocks can keep this game closer. The 6-1 Poindexter and the 5-11 Crawford are very good and are tough matchups for the Shockers as both are very good in space and Poindexter can stretch the floor. Poindexter has to be in the running for AAC POY and both should be 1st team All-AAC selections.

[shoxlax]

Best game they’ve played all year.

[1972Shocker]

The Lady Shocks playing without Tre'zure Jobe who sprained an ankle Tuesday's game against FAU managed to upset Tulsa at home today 72-65. The big surprise for the Shocks was DJ McCarty who has been noticeably hobbled with a knee issue all season. DJ led the Shocks with 26 points, which may be a career high for DJ. Dani Abies chipped in another strong double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

The Shocks outrebound Tulsa 43-37 and only turned it over 14 times to 22 for Tulsa.

Had the Shocks been better at the free throw line this the margin of victory could have been more. The Shocks were 20-34 from the line vs only 4-8 for Tulsa.

Nice win for the Shocks. I'm looking forward to watching a replay of the game later today or tomorrow.

[flyingMoose]

Tulsa had perimeter guards, not slashers. (See the PFs of 25 and 13.) That plays well to the Shocker's lack of guard-quickness on defense. Towards the end especially, the Shocks did a nice job of guarding the shooters of Tulsa.

On offense, the Shockers were far better on the inside than Tulsa. The Shocks prefer an inside-out offense, and it works well when the matchups are right.

In the previous matchup, Poindexter and Crawford of Tulsa got help on offense. Not this time.

Yes, DJ may well have careered in this one.


This is the first time I recall a noticeably pregnant referee on the court. The wife agrees with my assessment of her condition.

[1972Shocker]

This is the first time I recall a noticeably pregnant referee on the court. The wife agrees with my assessment of her condition.

So, you are pretty sure it was a her?

BTW, watched the replay of the game and have to agree with your diagnosis.

[1972Shocker]

I was thinking if the Shocks could hold Poindexter and Crawford to 40 points or less I would have thought they might have chance. But if told me the would combine for 43 points, that Tre'zure would not play, and that Salese would not score in the game I would have said the Shocks chances of winning were very slim, if that. Shows you what I know.

[flyingMoose]

... that Tre'zure would not play, ...

I thought DJ ran the show a little better than Tre'zure typically does. Sometimes DJ "slashes" to the basket and takes some goofy shots, but perhaps that keeps a defender guessing. In Q4, Tulsa tried to face-guard her some to keep her from ever getting the ball.

Oh, and even agree with the pregnancy diagnosis? :)

[shoxlax]

I still think Nooner will turn this team around during his tenure, at least to a top 3-4 in the league group. Just have a feeling they will recruit and retain well with this staff.

[1972Shocker]

WICHITA STATE (8-18, 4-10 AAC) at CHARLOTTE (15-12, 8-7 AAC)
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 | 3 p.m. CT
Charlotte, N.C. | Halton Arena
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KNSS with Steve Strain

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Tre'zure Jobe still on the sidelines with a bum ankle and, maybe more importantly, Dani Abies is out. I think Dani has been in concussion protocol after Tulsa beat the hell out of her a week ago. Apparently, Charlotte is missing a couple of players as well.

The Shockers have not been competitive as they trail Charlotte 23-36 at the half after falling behind 4-17 in the first 6 minutes of the game. The Shocks closed to 18-24 midway through the 2nd quarter before Charlotte extend the lead back to 13 at the half. Charlotte with a 24-12 advantage on the board.

The Shocks fell behind by 18 at 27-45 with 3:15 into the quarter then went on a 9-0 run over the next 1:30, their best stretch of the game, to closed to 9 at 36-45. But that is a close as the got. Charlotte extended the lead to 15 at the end of the 3rd quarter at 56-41 and then put the game away outscoring the Shocks 18-7 in the 4th quarter. Final score: Charlotte 74 - Wichita State 48.

The Shocks clearly missed Dani, especially on the boards, as Charlotte outrebounded the Shocks 46-26. Charlotte made 11-27 three pointers to only 4-18 for the Shocks and Charlotte was 13-15 from the free throw line vs 4-9 for the Shocks. The Shockers had 14 assists on 20 baskets which is pretty good for them, but Charlotte had 21 assists on 25 baskets.

DJ had both knees K-taped on the front side on both knees but she simply is not moving well, however, she did manage to play 35 minutes.

Salese Blow lead the Shocks with 17 points, Raissa Nsabua added 10 points and Ornella Niankan had 9 points. Ornella and Ella Anciaux led the Shocks in rebounding with a pretty pedestrian 4 rebounds each. Ella was forced to play a season high 24 minutes.

Even with Dani and Tre'zure the Shocks probably don't win this game but the odds would have better much more in their favor had they been available.

[1972Shocker]

SMU (13-13, 7-8 AAC) at WICHITA STATE (8-19, 4-11 AAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 | 6 p.m. CT
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
TV: ESPN+ with Pat Strathman and Tracey Anderson
Radio: KFH with Steve Strain

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
> SMU is 3-5 on the road this season with their two conference road wins coming against Tulane (3-12 AAC) and Memphis (7-8 AAC0.
> Four Mustangs are averaging double-digit scoring with Tiara Young (5-9 GS Guard), the reigning AAC Sixth-Player of the Year, leading the team with 16.8 points per game, Chantae Embry (6-1 Jr Forward) averaging 12.1, Amirah Abdur-Rahim (6-3 Sr Forward) averaging 11.5 and Ella Brow (5-8 So. Guard) averaging 10.0. Reagan Bradley (5-8 GS Guard) is scoring 9.9 per game.
> Abdur-Rahim leads the conference in blocks per game, averaging 1.8 and is the team's leading rebounding with 6.5 per game. She also ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage (53.8).
> Tiara Young ranks fourth in the conference in free throws made, Reagan Bradley (5-8 GS Guard) is the team's best passer, ranking fourth in the conference in assists per game (4.0).
> The Mustangs rank second in the conference in field goal percentage (43.6) and third in the conference in made free throws per game (14.4).
> SMU was picked fourth in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll and currently sits in 10th.

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The Shocks were without the services of Dani Abies (concussion) and Tre'zure Jobe (sprained ankle) in their blowout lost to Charlotte this past Saturday. Hopefully, both will be back for the SMU game. Even if they are SMU with their size and balanced scoring will be a tough challenge for the Shocks.

Tulane at 3-12 in AAC play is locked into a last four finish. An SMU win or a Memphis win over UTSA at home tomorrow would lock the Shockers and FAU into a last 4 finish as well. While the chances of an of these teams winning a conference tournament are low in any circumstances having to win 5 games in 5 days pretty much eliminates whatever slim chances they might otherwise have.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks jumped out to a 16-10 lead 5.5 minutes into the game. SMU then came charging back outscoring the Shocks 30-8 over the next 10 minutes to take a 40-24 lead. The Shocks then finished off the half on a 13-2 run to close to within 5 at 42-37. So SMU's 10 minutes of good play a little better than the Shocks 10 minutes of good play.

SMU is without there 6-3 senior forward and the Shockers appear to be without Sierra Morrow. I don't think Sierra is even on the bench. ESPN+ announcing team have not mentioned her one way or the other.

SMU extends their lead to 9 at 49-40 4 minutes into the 3rd quarter but the Shocks chipped away and got that down to 3 points at 56-53 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

In the 4th quarter the Shocks opened the scoring with a 3-pointer by Ambuh Kowcun to tie the game at 56-all. But SMU pulled away again to an 8 point lead and led 70-62 with 5:15 to play. The Shocks the went on an 8-0 run tie the game up at 70-70 with 2:52 to play. SMU scored the next 4 point to make it 74-70 with 1:12 to play. SMU maintained a 2-4 point lead and with 8.4 seconds left in the game SMU led 78-74 after making 1-2 free throws. With about 5 seconds left SMU fouled Salese Blow on a 3-point attempt. Salese made all three free throws to pull the Shocks to within 1 at 78-77. The Shocks immediately fouled and SMU hit both free throws to make it 80-77. The Shocks had no time outs left so could not advancd the ball to half court with 4.7 seconds left so the had to go the length of the court. SMU elected not to foul and Salese was able to get off a guarded, desperation 3 at the buzzer and banked it in to tie the game at 80 to go into OT.

The game was tied at 84-all with 2:24 remaining in OT after 2 free throws by Raissa Nsabua. Unfortunately, the Shocks ran out of gas with SMU scoring the final 4 points to win the game 84-80.

The Shocks stayed in the game with outstanding free throw shooting making 24-28 (85.7%) from the line which is about 20% better than their season average.

Salese Blow led the Shocks with 24 points, inlcudint 9-9 free throws, Dani Abies recored another double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, Jayla Murray had 13 points and 8 rebounds but was only 1-4 from the line, and Raissa Nsabua chipped in 12 points and 4 assists and only 1 turnover.

Ella Anciaux played a career high 28 minutes. She only scored 3 points but she did grab 11 rebounds.

The Shocks had a very good 21 assists on 26 baskets with DJ McCarty leading the way with 9 of those assists. The Shockers only had 11 turnovers which is quire good for them but SMU only had 7 turnovers.

Good effort by the Shocks. Just could not ever get over the hump after SMU blitz them in the middle of the 1st half. But the Shocks kept fighting back and never gave up.

[flyingMoose]

Played a 1-2-2 zone (3-2? there is probably a functional difference) most of the game. Penetrating guards gave the Shocks problems on the back side of the zone. As noted in earlier games, penetrating guards cause lots of problems for the Shocker defense.