WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State recorded its fifth straight win behind 19 points from DJ McCarty, as Wichita State defeated Denver, 61-54, Wednesday night in Charles Koch Arena.
Wichita State (6-1) matches its best seven-game start in school history, which happened just last season.
McCarty was perfect from the field, going 8-for-8 and a team-high 19 points. She added five assists and two steals to her stellar night. Nhug Bosch Duran recorded her second straight game in double figures with 10 points.
Jane Asinde failed to reach double figures for the first time this season, and was held scoreless, but grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Trajata Colbert just missed a double-double with eight points and 11 boards.
After being outrebounded in the first half, Wichita State dominated the glass in the second half. The Shockers outrebounded Denver by 14 to offset 21 turnovers.
Wichita State knocked down a season-high six three-pointers and shot 42 percent overall. Denver was just 7-of-25 from beyond the arc and 7-of-16 from the free throw line.
After Denver held a 15-11 lead after 10 minutes, Wichita State used a 6-0 run in the opening minutes of the second quarter to take its first lead. That lead would be short lived as Denver came right down an answered with a three-pointer.
A low-scoring first half would see the Pioneers lead 27-25 at the half. Both teams had nearly identical stats at the break. McCarty led all Shockers with seven points.
The first half of the third quarter was played between a two-point margin until Wichita State grabbed a five-point lead at the 2:28 mark following an Ella Anciaux layup and Aniya Bell three-pointer.
That lead would not remain intact, however, as Denver closed the final 2:10 on a 9-2 run. A buzzer beating three-pointer from Mary Wilson gave the Pioneers a 43-41 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Wichita State finally seized control in the fourth after scoring the first nine points. The Shockers grabbed their largest lead, 55-46, with 4:34 to go, but then went more than four minutes without a score.
Denver closed it to 55-51, but that would be as close as it would get. Free throws from McCarty and Bosch Duran in the final minute sealed the win.
Up Next
Wichita State hosts New Orleans on Saturday in Charles Koch Arena with tip slated for 2 p.m. CT.