KINGSVILLE -- Texas A&M-Kingsville closed Saturday's game with a 21-8 run over the final 7:06 to take an 81-68 win over ACU in a key Lone Star Conference South Division women's game at the Steinke Center.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 14-8 overall and 4-3 in the LSC South, while the Javelinas improve to 17-5 and 5-2. The Wildcats have a week off before facing two must-win home games against Angelo State (Feb. 13 at Moody Coliseum) and against Tarleton State (Feb. 16 at McMurry's Kimbrell Arena).
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the LSC Post-Season Tournament next month in Bartlesville, Okla., and right now the Wildcats are only one-half game ahead of Angelo State, which was off Saturday and will play Kingsville in San Angelo on Wednesday before playing the Wildcats next Saturday in Abilene.
ACU trailed 60-53 with 9:01 to play after a pair of free throws by Reagan Sutton gave the Javelinas their largest lead of the game to that point. However,
Jamie Meyer hit a jumper with 8:50 to play to make it 60-55 before
Kelsey Darby-Holson hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 60-58 with 8:19 to go. Darby-Holson then drilled a jumper with 7:45 to play to tie the game at 60 apiece.
But that would be the last hurrah for the Wildcats, who went ice cold down the stretch. ACU was just 2 of 12 from the field and had three turnovers in the final seven minutes. Among ACU's 10 misses from the floor were three layups.
Kingsville, however, had no such trouble scoring down the stretch. Kayla Naylor scored nine points in the run, while Dyana Bullinger had five. Ursula Hill scored three points in the run, while Angela Franklin had two and Regan and Felicia Soza had one apiece.
ACU senior point guard
Kat Kundmueller was solid, hitting 6 of 10 shots from the field (2 of 5 from 3-point range) 14 points to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds.
Jamie Meyer led the Wildcats with 16 points, followed by
Courtney Laing with 15 points.
