ABILENE – Mack Lankford scored 23 first half points to pace the Wildcats to their first victory of the season Saturday afternoon with an 88-85 win over Texas A&M-Commerce in Lone Star Conference Crossover action at Moody Coliseum.
Both squads entered Saturday winless as ACU walked away 1-5 while the Lions fell to 0-6. ACU is off for a week before traveling to Oklahoma for a road contest with Northeastern State next Saturday.
Lankford was held scoreless for the first five minutes before exploding for 23 first half points and helping the Wildcats extend their largest lead of 13 just before the half. The Lions would cut the Wildcat lead to 10 at 45-35 at half-time. Lankford finished with 32 points setting a season high.
A&M-Commerce raced to an 11-0 run to start the second period taking the lead on a layup by Tiffany Mitchell at 17:46 mark. Both teams would trade baskets until another 9-0 run by the Lions gave them a 73-64 lead with 7:30 minutes left.
The Wildcats would trail until
Renata Marquez would race ahead of the pack for an uncontested layup tying the game at 77-77. But a three pointer by Danielle Dixon would push the Lions back ahead with just under 4 minutes in the game.
Lankford who was held in check most of the second half scored six points in the final two minutes to give ACU a one point lead, 85-84. Marquez would sink two three free throws with the final coming in the last 12 seconds to ice the game for the Wildcats.
Marquez was 8 for 9 from the free throw line for 18 points in the game. Her final free throw attempt of the night fell off the left side of the rim ending a streak of 15 consecutive free throws from Thursday night's game against Texas Woman's.
Danielle Dixon finished with 24 to lead the Lions.
