Box Score WICHITA, Kan. - Bradley was looking to end a season-long five-game road swing on a high note, but Wichita State's Jessica Diamond scored 10 of her game-high 22 points to highlight a 14-2 WSU second-half run and help the Shockers to a 69-55 victory Saturday at Charles Koch Arena. One of the top defensive teams in the Valley, Wichita State limited the Braves to 33.3 percent shooting, including a season-low 16.7 percent (3-for-18) from three-point range.
Bradley (4-8 overall, 0-2 MVC) led 29-27 with 2:49 to play in the first half, but Wichita State scored eight consecutive points to take a 35-29 lead with just over one minute remaining. Sophomore MacKenzie Westcott (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) closed the half with a three-pointer from the corner and Bradley trailed 35-32 at the break. After a 6-for-13 start from the field, the Braves cooled off and made just 3-of-16 shots against the Shockers to close the period helping fuel the Wichita State run to end the half.
Neither team opened the second half strong as the two teams combined for just six points in the first four minutes after the break.
Despite the early struggles, junior Sonya Harris (Riverdale, Ill./Thornton) made a layup with 15:35 to play to give BU a 38-37 lead. Diamond would heat up for the Shockers, however, scoring 10 points to highlight a 14-2 run to push the Wichita State advantage to 49-40 midway through the half. The 14-2 run was just the beginning, as the Shockers outscored the Braves 25-8 over an 11:36 stretch to take a 62-46 lead with 3:38 remaining.
Wichita State (10-3 overall, 2-0 MVC) improved to 2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play for the first time since the 1998-99 season with the 69-55 win.
Harris led the Braves with her team-leading third double-double of the year. She collected 13 points and 11 rebounds off the bench as she became the 15th player in school history with 500 career boards. Junior Raisa Taylor (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower) added nine points. The Braves outrebounded Wichita State 44-34, but couldn't overcome 19 turnovers and its worst shooting effort of the season from beyond the arc.
Diamond led Wichita State with a game and season-high 22 points, while Marisah Henderson dished out 12 assists to go along with seven points, six boards and three steals. The Shockers committed a season-low nine turnovers
Bradley returns home for its first home game in over four weeks when the Braves play host to Evansville Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Lorene Ramsey Gym in East Peoria in BU's Missouri Valley Conference home opener.
