FORT WORTH, Texas – Daniela Abies scored 22 points and grabbed a championship single-game record 22 rebounds as No. 13 Wichita State defeated No. 12 Florida Atlantic, 64-50, in the first game of the 2024 American Women’s Basketball Championship, Saturday, March 9, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
With the win, Wichita State (10-21) will take on No. 5 South Florida on Sunday, March 10 at 3 p.m. Eastern/2 p.m. Central on ESPN+.
Abies’ 20 rebounds replaced the previous single-game Championship record of 19 by Amiya Joyner of East Carolina, who accomplished the feat against Tulane in 2023. Abies also scored 17 points after halftime. Abies nine offensive boards matched the Championship single-game record, tying Tanaya Atkinson of Temple in 2018.
In addition to Abies, Jayla Murray (12 points) and Salese Blow (11) reached double-digit scoring for the Shockers.
The two teams were tied at 41 with a minute to go in the third quarter before the Shockers went on a 9-2 run to take the lead for good. Florida Atlantic (11-19) cut the Shocker lead to two at 52-50 with 3:43 remaining, but was held scoreless the rest of the game, as Wichita State closed the game on a 12-0 run.
Aniya Hubbard recorded 12 points and eight rebounds for the Owls, while Jane Rozentale added 11.
2024 American Women’s Basketball Championship Schedule
First Round | Saturday, March 9
Game 1: No. 13 Wichita State 64, No. 12 Florida Atlantic 50
Game 2: No. 14 Tulane vs. No. 11 SMU – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Second Round | Sunday, March 10
Game 3: No 9 East Carolina vs. No. 8 Memphis – 1 p.m. ET/ Noon CT | ESPN+
Game 4: No. 13 Wichita State vs. No. 5 South Florida – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 5: No. 10 Rice vs. No. 7 UAB – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. No. 6 Charlotte – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Quarterfinals | Monday March 11
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. No. 1 Tulsa – 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | ESPN+
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. No. 4 UTSA – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 2 North Texas – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 3 Temple – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Semifinals | Tuesday, March 12
Game 11 – Semifinal 1, Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 12 – Semifinal 2, Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Final | Wednesday, March 13
Game 13: Championship, Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
