It was a “bittersweet” night inside Charles Koch Arena, as head coach Terry Nooner reflected on saying goodbye to nine seniors, including both the single-game scoring record holder and program’s single-season 3-point leader.
Wichita State women’s basketball’s graduating class left on a high note, besting North Texas 60-55 Tuesday night inside Koch Arena.
“Winning, but also saying goodbye, it’s bittersweet,” Nooner said.
Wichita State women’s basketball graduate center Cheyenne Banks (42) holds back tears while walking with her family during the senior night ceremony on March 3 at Koch Arena. The Shockers beat North Texas 60-55 in the seniors’ final home game this year.
In a game where they trailed for nearly 33 minutes, the Shockers’ win improved them to 5-12 in conference play and 8-22 overall. While out of contention for an American Conference title, Wichita State ended the season off right at home.
Despite this season’s trials and tribulations, graduate guard Abby Cater said she wanted to leave her mark — on and off the court.
“I wanted to leave an impact on everybody here,” she said.
Her impact on the court Tuesday included 20 points, 10 at the foul line, and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Earlier in the season, Cater set the single-game scoring record with 42 points against Memphis.
“Abby will be hard to replace,” Nooner said. “Finding someone who can score like her and run the offense. But (also) finding someone with her personality.”
Cater unselfishly credited her triumphs this year to those around her.
“I have never had a staff who wanted me to succeed so much,” Cater said.
The only other Shocker in double digits was Treasure Thompson, who scored 13 off the bench.
North Texas’ Megan Nestor continued her historic dominance on the glass this year, pulling in 19 rebounds and all but cementing herself as the nation’s leading rebounder. She leads all of the NCAA in both total rebounds (435) and rebounds per game (14.5). The former St. Lucia national team netball star tied for No. 53 all time in the NCAA in single-season rebounding total and broke the conference’s single-season record.
It was a slow start for WSU, missing its first nine field goals and not scoring until 2:12 left in the first quarter. The lulls allowed North Texas to jump out to a quick 10-0 lead. The Shockers ended the first period on a 6-0 run, however, and cut the Mean Green lead to just five, sitting at 14-9.
Thompson kept WSU in the game in the second quarter, scoring six points when the team needed it most. Her presence then opened up opportunities for Cater to score five straight points.
The Shockers’ first half struggles from the field held them back, shooting just 31%, but they were able to keep it close and trailed 28-23 before the break.
The third quarter saw both teams forcing their way to the charity stripe, where WSU capitalized by shooting 8-10. Meanwhile, the Mean Green struggled to knock down untimed shots, shooting just 7-13, and allowing the Shockers back into the game.
A Jaila Harding 3-pointer with 1:04 left cut the lead to just a point, where it would stay heading into the final stanza. Harding set the single-season 3-point record with 80 on the year.
The Shockers went on a 9-0 tear with four minutes to go in the fourth, giving them their first lead of the game.
Cater drove inside for a tough layup to extend the Shockers’ advantage to three with 20 seconds to go. She later knocked down 2 free throws with just seven seconds left to seal the win in the Shockers’ final home game this year.
WSU will conclude its season with a road matchup against Memphis at 7 p.m. Saturday at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
Box Score breakdown
WSU — 9; 14; 18; 19 — 60
UNT — 14; 14; 14; 13 — 55
Shooting Totals (fg-3pt-ft)
WSU (39%-27%-80%)
UNT (32%-27%-66%)
Stat leaders
Points — WSU: Abby Cater (20), Treasure Thompson (13), Jaila Harding (8). UNT: Aysia Proctor (19), Megan Nestor (15), Chania Price (13).
Rebounds —WSU: Abby Cater (10), Taya Davis (5), Treasure Thompson (5). UNT: Megan Nestor (19), Tionna Lidge (5), Aysia Proctor (4).
Assists — WSU: Taya Davis (6), Abby Cater (3), Jaila Harding (2). UNT: Jazzy Owens-Barnett (3), Mekhia Chase (2), Megan Nestor (2), Chania Price (2).
