FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 8 Wichita State started hot, fended off a third-quarter rally and defeated top seed South Florida, 65-53, in the quarterfinals of the 2023 American Women’s Basketball Championship Tuesday, March 7 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
 
It is the first time in the American Championship’s history that a No. 1 seed suffered defeat (previously 27-0).
 
The Shockers (18-13) move on to the semifinals and will face the winner of SMU/Houston on Wednesday, March 8 at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
The Shockers scored the game’s first eight points, and extended the lead to as many as 15 in the second quarter at 30-15. An 11-0 run brought the Bulls (26-6) within two at 35-33 with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter, but that was as close as they would get, as Wichita State led by as many as 15 in the fourth.
 
Jane Asinde led Wichita State with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Curtessia Dean added 14 points.
 
Wichita State 47.1 percent from the field (24-51) and 46.2 percent from 3-point range (6-13), while holding South Florida to 31.7 percent shooting (19-60) and 4-of-22 from behind the arc (18.2 percent).
 
Elena Tsineke scored 19 points to lead South Florida.
 
The latest tournament information can be found online at The American's Championship Central by visiting www.TheAmerican.org/wbb. Tickets for the championship are on sale through Ticketmaster.
 
2023 American Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship
 
First Round | Monday, March 6
Game 1: No. 8 Wichita State 71, No. 9 Temple 61
Game 2: No. 10 UCF 69, No. 7 Tulsa 53
Game 3: No. 6 Tulane 61, No. 11 Cincinnati 52
 
Quarterfinals | Tuesday, March 7
Game 4: No. 8 Wichita State 65, No. 1 South Florida 53
Game 5: No. 5 SMU (16-11) vs. No. 4 Houston (13-15) | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: No. 10 UCF vs. No. 2 Memphis (19-9) | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 7: No. 6 Tulane vs. No. 3 East Carolina (20-9) | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
 
Semifinals | Wednesday, March 8
Game 8: No. 8 Wichita State vs. Game 5 Winner | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 9: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
 
Final | Thursday, March 9
Game 10: Semifinal Winners | 9 p.m. | ESPNU and ESPN+
 
All times are Eastern.