The Lady Toppers (1-0) held Kentucky State (0-0) to only 33 points, the 16th time in program history holding an opponent to 33 or fewer points. WKU improves to 38-15 all-time in season openers, 42-11 in home openers and have won three straight season and home openers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Torri James, Tia Shelling, Trinity Rowe, Tatum Boettjer and Zsofia Telegdy were the first five on the court for the Lady Toppers. WKU came firing out of the gate, going on a 16-0 run to start the game. Boettjer hit back-to-back threes during the run and James contributed four points as well. Kentucky State broke the drought at the 3:11 mark, but Jeniffer Silva scored four straight points in response. After another Thorobreds basket, Enni Ahhervuo went on a personal 4-2 run with four free throws for her first collegiate points. The Lady Toppers took a 24-6 lead into the second quarter.
The two teams traded baskets to open the second quarter, but WKU went on an 18-2 run in the final 7:40 of the quarter, closing out the frame with back-to-back 3-pointers from Tatum Boettjer. WKU went into the break with a 46-16 lead.
Telegdy scored the first five points of the third quarter to put WKU ahead by 35. After a Kentucky State bucket, WKU went on a 10-0 run to push the lead to 43. The two teams went back-and-forth the rest of the quarter, and the Lady Toppers took a 66-23 lead into the final quarter. WKU outscored Kentucky State 15-10 in the fourth quarter to clinch the 81-33 victory.
QUOTABLE
"We're not where we need to be, but this is a little more like we've done in practice," said head coach Greg Collins. "We can't have 22 turnovers, we can't. We're averaging 20-plus turnovers and that's not how you win. We have to take care of the basketball."
NOTABLES
- Tatum Boettjer led the Lady Toppers in scoring in her WKU debut. She had 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Her six 3-pointers were the most for a Lady Topper since Zsofia Telegdy connected on six at Middle Tennessee last season (Feb. 15, 2025).
- Tia Shelling led WKU on the boards, pulling down a career high 11 rebounds. She dished out six assists and came up with three steals, both career highs as well.
- Torri James flirted with a double-double, finishing with a career high nine points and career high nine rebounds. She also had a career high in blocks with three.
- Jeniffer Silva added a career high 13 points along with four rebounds.
- Salma Khedr also had a career high with 11 points.
- Enni Ahervuo made her collegiate debut, scoring 10 points to go with four rebounds and two steals in just 11 minutes of playing time.
- WKU improves to 14-1 under head coach Greg Collins when holding teams below 50 points, 52-9 when holding teams to below 60 and 103-26 when holding teams below 70.
- Thirty-three points is tied for the 16th fewest points WKU has given in a game in the modern era (1973-current) and it's the fewest since holding Little Rock to 25 on Dec. 11, 2022.
UP NEXT
The Lady Toppers will go on the road for the first time in 2025-26 on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Longwood in Farmville, Virginia. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. (CT).
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on Lady Topper Hoops, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram, @WKU.WBB on TikTok and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
