Johnson’s Career Day Not Enough In Wichita State Loss
WICHITA, Kan. – After leading for much of the first half on Sunday afternoon, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team didn’t have an answer for Wichita State in the second as the Purple Aces fell 58-50 at Charles Koch Arena.
While Kenyia Johnson and her career-best 18 points headlined the UE (2-16, 1-6 Missouri Valley Conference) offense on the day, Sara Dickey continued her ascent up the Aces all-time scoring list, racking up 12 points. The Montezuma, Ind., native now has 1,441 for her career, passing Barb Dykstra, who graduated in 1986 with 1,430.
Johnson, meanwhile, enjoyed one of the best outings of her career, as the sophomore out of Orange Park, Fla., finished 8-of-9 from the field and filled up the stat sheet with five assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals.
Rangie Bessard, whose eight-point second quarter propelled the WSU (5-14, 2-6 MVC) comeback, finished the day 11-for-18 shooting with 26 points and seven rebounds.
On the whole, the Aces actually out-scored the Shockers 24-14 in the paint and 22-18 off turnovers, but the real difference was from the free-throw line as UE went 9-of-18. WSU, which shot nearly all of their free throws inside the game’s final minute, was a perfect 8-for-8.
The Aces will be back in action on Jan. 29 as the team will return to the Ford Center to take on Illinois State at 7 p.m.
NOTES: UE is 21-24 against Wichita State and 6-16 in games played in Wichita … Rebekah Parker will be the next target for Dickey on the UE all-time scoring list. The 2008 graduate left Evansville with 1,480 career points … Sasha Robinson is 25 rebounds away from entering UE’s all-time top 10 in the category.
