Thursday, March 16
Memphis 79, Jackson State 68 – Box Score
SMU 68, Little Rock 42 – Box Score
Kansas State 90, Wichita State 56 – Box Score
 
Recaps
Memphis 79, Jackson State 68 – Box Score
MEMPHIS – Jamirah Shute’s 24 points led the Memphis women’s basketball to a first round win in the Postseason WNIT presented by Triple Crown Sports on Thursday, defeating Jackson State 79-68 inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
 
Along with Shutes, Madison Griggs and Emani Jefferson each poured in double-digit points, reaching 15 points and 14 points respectively. Destiny Thomas added 8 points and seven rebounds, while Hannah Riddick had a team-high eight rebounds.
 
The Tigers used a strong first half of basketball, scoring 20+ points in both the first and second quarters to take a 43-32 lead into halftime. Jackson State had a strong fourth quarter, outscoring Memphis 23-19, but the Tiger lead was too much to overcome.
 
Memphis connected on 35.6 percent of their shots for the game, including making eight three-pointers. Jackson State shot 38.8 percent from the field but managed to hit just three deep balls. Memphis made 19-of-25 from the charity stripe, while Jackson State went 13-of-18.
 
SMU 68, Little Rock 42 – Box Score
DALLAS - Savannah Wilkinson's 15 points and nine rebounds led SMU women's basketball team to a 68-42 victory over Little Rock Thursday in Moody Coliseum.
 
Wilkinson reached double-digits for the 12th time in the last 13 games. Jasmine Smith reached double-figures, scoring 11 points and tallied four assists. Reagan Bradley added five points and four assists. Chantae Embry scored six points and tallied four rebounds. Ella Brow scored seven points, three rebounds, and two assists. Amirah Abdur Rahim added nine points.
 
The Mustangs extended their home record to 13-2. SMU (17-12) controlled the game coast-to-coast. The Mustangs entered the fourth up 50-34 and closed the game with a dominating fourth quarter. A 10-0 run on the way to outsourcing the Trojans 18-8 sealed the victory.
 
After a back-and-forth second quarter, SMU held a 36-23 advantage at halftime. The Mustangs lead 24-9 after the first frame. Bradley's and-one layup put the Mustangs on the board first on the way to a 20-4 run to open the game.
 
Kansas State 90, Wichita State 56 – Box Score
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Curtessia Dean scored a career high 22 points, but Wichita State fell in the first round of the WNIT at Kansas State, 90-56, Thursday night in Bramlage Coliseum.
 
Wichita State saw its season come to an end, finishing 18-15 overall and making its first postseason appearance since 2015.
 
Dean poured in a career-high tying 22 points in her collegiate finale. She was 9-for-21 from the floor to go with seven rebounds. Trajata Colbert closed out her Shocker career with four points and six rebounds. Colbert scored more than 900 points, grabbed 600 rebounds and blocked 97 shots in her five-year career.
 
Wichita State shot a season-worst 27.8 percent from the field, and just 5-of-28 from beyond the arc.
 
K-State hit 11 of three-pointers and finished just under 50 percent from the field.
 
Wichita State trailed 19-12 after 10 minutes, behind a cold start from the field. The Shockers were just 5-of-18 in the first quarter. K-State shot just below 50 percent, and connected on a trio of three-pointers.
 
The Shockers went the final 2:49 of the opening quarter without a point.
 
K-State pushed the margin to double digits on back-to-back possessions to begin the second quarter, forcing a Keitha Adams timeout just 1:16 into the period.
 
Things didn't get much better the remaining 8:44, as the Wildcats went on to outscore Wichita State, 24-11, in the second quarter. K-State went into the locker room with a 43-23 lead. Dean was the lone bright spot, scoring 13 of the team's 23 points. While Dean was 6-for-12 from the floor, the rest of the team was a combined 4-for-20.
 
Wichita State finished the half shooting 31 percent, compared to 47 percent for K-State. The Wildcats were also 6-of-16 from beyond the arc.
 
Seven of Wichita State's nine first half turnovers also came in that second quarter when K-State pushed its margin to as many as 21.
 
K-State effectively put the game away in the third quarter behind an 18-2 run covering more than 5:00 minutes.