WICHITA, Kan.--A relentless offensive effort helped Wichita State to win its second nail biter of the weekend against the visiting Iona Gaels, 66-64.

Led by a 55 percent shooting performance from the floor by sophomore Jacie Hoyt, and the fourth consecutive double-double routine from senior Marcy Sudbeck the Shockers took its second hard fought victory in three days. Sudbeck's fourth-straight effort was the first for the Shocks since Angela Buckner posted six in a row in 2004. The senior ended the day with 21 points and 15 rebounds?including a team-leading 13 point performance in the edge-of-your-seat final half.

Senior Daria Frazier hit the opening bucket after the Shockers forced a Gael turnover. A block by Sudbeck resulted in a quick transition jumper off the hands of Val Siemens. The sophomore guard's made bucket gave the Shockers the early 8-2 lead.

The Shockers' defense played as big a role in the opening minutes as their speedy offense. Junior Marisah Henderson broke up the Gael offense with a quick steal, which turned into a fast break layup for Hoyt. Hoyt drew the foul, sunk the free throw and stretched her team's lead, 11-4.

Iona fell into foul trouble early in the afternoon. By the 12-minute mark, the Shockers found themselves in the bonus. This supplemented an offense that appeared to be running on all cylinders. After a low shooting percentage against UTSA on Friday night, the Shockers were a much tougher 50 percent from the floor through the midway point of the first half.

Not unexpectedly, Iona, a WNIT tournament team last season, refused to stay down without a fight. Sophomore Anda Ivkovic powered through the Shocker defense for a layup, closing the deficit, 19-15. Ivkovic led Iona with nine points in the first, and finished with 20.

Forcing the Shockers to increase the pace of their game, Iona continued to play up tempo. Senior Neemah Ricketts executed on a drive to the basket. A three from freshman Milica Paligoric gave the Gaels the 24-23 lead, their first of the game.

The lead was short lived as Wichita State took its turn at fighting back. Five straight points from Hoyt returned the lead to the Shockers, 31-26 with less than two minutes to play before the break. Paligoric and Sudbeck traded buckets under the basket, and the Shocks took a 33-31 lead into halftime.

Not thirty seconds into the second half, Iona and Wichita State engaged in the back-and-forth game. Two minutes later, the lead had switched to the Gaels' favor. Continuing to rally her troops, Ivkovic's three-point play gave Iona its biggest lead of the day, 41-36.

It, too, didn't last long as Siemens' shooting hand stayed warm through the second half. The sophomore tallied seven in the first and seven in the second. Her back-to-back field goals tied the game for the fourth time at 46.

The score remained locked for the rest of the game. Neither team could score without the other answering in its next trip down the floor. Ivkovic's first three of the day combined with another set of made free throws to snap the tie momentarily, 55-53.

Once again, the Gaels lead wasn't meant to last. With only a 56-55 lead, Sudbeck showed composure nailing four straight free throws. A clutch make from the behind the arc by Henderson put the Shocks ahead, 62-58.

Ivkovic continued to rally Iona, scoring a layup and a pair of free throws of her own, pulling the score within one with less than two minutes to play. The Shocks used their nearly 70 percent free throw accuracy to pull ahead, 65-61.

As if the crowd would expect anything less, Iona drove down the floor, dishing off to junior Thazina Cook for a three. With six seconds on the clock, the Gaels trailed by a single point. A single free throw from Henderson, who finished with eight points, gave the Shockers enough for its third win of the season.

The Shockers travel to Memphis, Tenn. this weekend for the 2008 Piggly Wiggly Classic. Wichita State opens the tournament against Memphis on Friday, Nov. 28 at 6:00 p.m.

-Wichita State-

 

 

More to come.