West Texas rallies past ACU, 57-55
Wildcats can't hold 10-point lead in key LSC South loss
ABILENE -- West Texas A&M overcame a 10-point second-half deficit Saturday night to take a 57-55 win over ACU in a key Lone Star Conference South Division showdown at Moody Coliseum.
The disheartening loss drops the Wildcats to 10-8 overall and 1-2 in the LSC South Division with five straight road games (at Midwestern State, at Texas Woman's, at Texas A&M-Commerce, at Texas A&M-Kingsville and at Angelo State) looming next on the schedule. The win, meanwhile, pushes the Lady Buffs to 11-4 and 1-1 in the LSC South.
After playing a poor first half and finding themselves down 28-19 at halftime, the Wildcats turned it around to start the second half. ACU outscored West Texas 26-7 in the first 12:21 of the second half to take what seemed to be a commanding 45-35 lead with 7:39 to play. Guard Jenny Jackson gave the Wildcats that 10-point lead on a jumper in the lane.
But the Lady Buffs were able to rally, despite playing most of the game short-handed (only eight players) after starting center Latyoa Robinson left the game with less than 45 seconds gone by in the first half with a knee injury.
The Lady Buffs whittled the lead to 49-46 with 3:43 left on a pair of free throws by Celeste Stevenson before ACU pushed the lead back to 51-46 with 3:03 to play on two Kierstan Barbee free throws.
But West Texas outscored ACU 9-4 down the stretch as the Wildcats reverted to their first-half sloppiness in the final minutes. ACU, which turned the ball over 17 times in the first half and 25 times overall, had six turnovers was just 2 of 7 from the floor after Jackson's shot gave ACU its 10-point advantage.
ACU still led 55-54 with 49 seconds left after Melanie Carter hit one of two free throws, but just 15 seconds later, Keisha Monroe calmly canned a pair of free throws to give West Texas a 56-55 lead.
The Wildcats ran the game clock down to 10.5 seconds (shot clock to seven seconds) to set up a pick-and-roll play, but the Lady Buffs' tough defense forced Jackson to take an off-balance shot in the lane that failed to draw iron. Carlee Massie grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit one of two free throws to seal the 57-55 win.
Carter was the only Wildcat in double figures with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Lynsie Blau had nine points and 10 rebounds. Jackson had eight points off the bench.
