ABILENE – Two ACU players topped 25 points Tuesday night, but the Wildcats couldn't overcome 35 turnovers and 10 3-pointers from Texas-Permian Basin as the Falcons spoiled the Wildcats' home-opener with a 105-91 win in non-conference women's college basketball action at Moody Coliseum.
The loss drops the Wildcat to 0-3 on the season, while the Falcons of the Heartland Conference improve to 3-0. ACU will be back on the court next Tuesday in San Antonio when it takes on St. Mary's in another non-conference game.
Sophomore center
Kelsey Smith hit 15 of 21 shots from the field on her way to scoring 32 points and pulling down a game-high 16 rebounds. Freshman guard Mack Lankford hit 9 of 15 from the field on her way to 25 points.
Turnovers, however, have plagued the Wildcats through three games as they have committed 25, 31 and 35 turnovers in each of their first three games, respectively. ACU had 20 turnovers in the first half, leaving the Wildcats tied 47-47 at the break, despite out-shooting the Falcons from the field.
ACU led 60-59 with 15:11 left after
Cecilee Perez hit a fast-break layup and a free throw after she was fouled by Tina Lira. Just a few seconds later, however, Lira hit a 3-pointer to give the Falcons a 62-60 advantage, a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
That 3-pointer was the start of a 13-4 run over a 2:07 period that would give the Falcons a 72-64 lead with 13:04 to play. The run ended with a 3-pointer by Cashena Mathis.
ACU got the lead down to 75-73 with 11:44 left on a 3-pointer by Lankford, but the Falcons put the game away over the next five minutes with a 15-2 run that put them ahead 90-75 with 6:50 to play. The run ended on a layup by Cashena Mathis. The Wildcats would not get closer than eight points the rest of the night.
