WICHITA (GoShockers.com) – Temple’s buzzer-beater three overtook the Shockers, handing Wichita State its fourth-straight loss, 66-65, in The Liacouras Center.
Daniela Abies recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Ornella Niankan and Salese Blow also finished in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The game saw 10 lead changes as neither team led by more than 10 points, and Wichita State forced 19 turnovers.
The Shockers shot over 40 percent from three for the fifth time this season, going 6-for-13.
Temple opened the game on a 12-2 run but the Shockers fought back to make it a two-point game by the end of the quarter.
Wichita State took its first lead of the game when Tre’Zure Jobe hit a three with 6:37 left in the second quarter and went on to finish the half on a 7-0 run, taking a six-point lead.
The teams traded buckets early in the second half before the Shockers took their biggest lead of the game (+9) midway through the third quarter. The Owls weren’t going anywhere, though, and cut the lead to three heading into the final quarter.
DJ McCarty scored all six of her points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of free throws to tie the game with 54 seconds and then a floater to tie it up again with 17 seconds remaining after Temple’s answer.
Abies blocked a shot by Temple’s Ines Piper with four seconds to go, but Temple got the rebound and kicked it out to Tiarra East, who hit the game-winning three as time expired.
Wichita State falls to 6-16 (2-8 AAC) while Temple improves to 12-9 (6-3 AAC).
The Shockers are back at home Sunday, Feb. 4 to face East Carolina.
