East Carolina University
11-6,3-1American
Wichita State
3-14,0-4American
Pirates Take Wire-to-Wire Win over Wichita State, 83-56
January 10, 2026 | Women's Basketball
WICHITA, Kan. – The East Carolina women's basketball team dominated Wichita State for an 83-56 win on Saturday afternoon in Charles Koch Arena. Four Pirates scored in double figures in the win.
The Pirates (11-6, 3-1 American) got a near perfect start to the game as they scored the first 15 points of the contest before Wichita State (3-14, 0-4 American) finally scored at the 7:02 mark of the first quarter. Kennedy Fauntleroy had eight points alone during that opening run, including a pair of made threes. The team also forced five turnovers during that opening run, with 12 of the 15 points coming off of a takeaway.
When the first quarter finally came to a close, it was a 26-13 score after the Shockers clawed back a bit to prevent a total route in the first 10 minutes. Fauntleroy scored a game-high 13 in the first, tied with Wichita State all by herself.
The scoring eased in the early stages second quarter as both sides struggled to score while ECU joined the Shockers in struggling with ball control, turning the ball over seven times in the period. This allowed and eventual 6-0 run for the hosts to cut the margin into single digits, 37-28, with just under three minutes before the half.
The Pirates responded in spades with a 9-0 run, including 8-0 in just 53 seconds, in the waning moments of the first half to take a 50-31 lead into the half, having made five of their final six shots from the field as well. 19 points was the largest lead of the half.
Fauntleroy continued to lead all scorers at the break with her 17 points as well as recording five assists and two steals. 17 matched her previous season high scoring for a game.
A triple from Jayla Hearp followed by an and-one score by Anzhané Hutton to open the second half put the Pirates up by 20 points for the first time, 55-34, at the 6:32 mark of the third. Hutton would finish through contact again moments later for a 24-point lead.
The teams wound up shooting a combined 8-29 from the field in the third quarter as ECU used a 16-10 quarter to lead by 25 points entering the final 10 minutes of play.
The fourth quarter was an academic exercise which saw the Pirates go up by as many as 28 points. The visitors remained in control with Taylor Barner led the way with six points to get into double figures in the game.
All told, the win was a dominant one for ECU. The team led for 39 minutes of game time and never gave the Shockers any breathing room to come back. With 34 points scored off of 27 forced turnovers, the game was over early and the Pirates return to Minges Coliseum on Tuesday with a 3-1 record in American Conference play.
Up Next
The Pirates return to Minges Coliseum for a date with Tulsa at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
