Heart-Pounding Finale: North Texas Triumphs in Conference Debut as Comeback Efforts Fall Just Short

WICHITA – Wichita State rallied back from a 14-point deficit to bring it to a one-point game in the fourth quarter, yet it was insufficient to surpass the Mean Green in the American Athletic Conference opener on Sunday afternoon at Charles Koch Arena.
 
Taylor Jameson made five three-pointers en route to a 17-point outing to lead all scorers. Jayla Murray and Salese Blow also contributed in double digits for the Shockers with 14 and 10 points, respectively, while Bre’Yon White topped Wichita State in rebounding for the seventh time this season with nine. Jameson recorded a season-best six rebounds.
 
Desiree Wooten led the Mean Green with 12 points and eight rebounds, alongside Tommisha Lampkin who achieved a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
 
The Shockers shot merely 29.2 percent (19-for-65) from the field and 42.9 percent from the foul line (9-for-21) but experienced their best three-point shooting day of the season, converting 9-for-19 (47.4 percent).
 
Wichita State restricted North Texas to 2-for-17 (.118) from behind the three-point line, marking the lowest three-point percentage of any Shocker opponent this season.
 
Averaging just 4.9 three-pointers per game entering the match, the Shockers began the game with three in the first five minutes thanks to Murray (2) and Blow (1). The opening quarter witnessed three lead changes and three ties, with the Shockers ahead by five before the Mean Green seized a four-point lead at the quarter’s end and maintained it thereafter.
 
The Shockers faced difficulties offensively in the second quarter, converting just 2-for-14 (.143), as the Mean Green launched a 13-3 run to lead by 14 at halftime.
 
After the intermission, Jameson nailed her third three of the day before stealing from Jaaucklyn Moore and assisting Blow for another three, reducing the gap to eight midway through the third quarter. A couple of layups from Jasmine Peaks sparked some energy for the Shockers in the fourth, and Jameson hit her fifth three-point shot of the day, narrowing it to a one-point game with just over three minutes left.
 
Wooten and Tommisha Lampkin from North Texas did not allow the Shockers to take the lead, scoring seven consecutive points for the Mean Green and extending their lead back to 10. Murray scored two second-chance layups down the final stretch, but it wasn’t enough to prevail over the Mean Green.
 
The Shockers drop to 6-8 (0-1 AAC), while North Texas improves to 9-4 (1-0 AAC).
 
Wichita State travels to face Memphis on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 3 p.m.