SAN ANGELO -- The ACU Wildcats hadn't played in a week when they stepped on the floor Saturday night against Angelo State at the Junell Center.
To say the least, the layoff and rest didn't help.
Playing for the first time since an inspired performance last Saturday in a 69-67 win over then-No. 9 West Texas A&M, the Wildcats threw out their worst performance of the season in a 57-52 loss to the Rambelles.
ACU had a chance to take a bit of early control and bury an old rival in the Lone Star Conference South Division race, but the Rambelles would have none of it, playing perhaps their best game of the season to stay alive in the race for Bartlesville.
The loss snaps ACU's five-game winning streak and drops the Wildcats to 12-6 overall and 2-1 in the LSC South, while the Rambelles improve to 9-9 and 2-2. The Wildcats will be in Stephenville on Wednesday to take on a TexAnn squad that is 15-3 and 2-1 after a 74-69 loss Saturday at West Texas A&M.
The Lady Buffs are now in sole possession of first place in the LSC South at 19-2 and 3-1, while the Wildcats are tied with Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville at 2-1 in the LSC South.
The Rambelles entered the game shooting just 37.5 percent from the field on the season (14th out of 15 teams in the LSC), but shot 42.6 (20 of 47) against the Wildcats. ACU killed itself with turnovers, finishing with 19 against the Rambelles.
ACU was also out-rebounded 31-28 by the Rambelles only the third time this season the Wildcats have been out-rebounded. The Wildcats had just eight rebounds at halftime -- all defensive rebounds -- as the Rambelles broke a 16-16 tie and reeled off a 16-6 run to take a 35-25 lead at the break.
The Wildcats -- who trailed by as many as 17 points at one point in the second half -- got back to within seven points twice in the final 1:10 of the contest and then to within five (57-52) on a
Jamie Meyer jumper with three seconds to play, but that was as close as they would get.
Courtney Laing was the only Wildcat who could get anything going as she finished with 15 points and seven rebounds for ACU. Meyer had 12points, but was just 5 of 13 from the floor.
