Box Score
ABILENE – As St. Edward's began to close in on Abilene Christian's lead midway through the second half, junior guard
Shelby Shipley ignited a game-changing 16-4 run with a 3-pointer that set the stage for a runaway 78-66 victory Tuesday night at Moody Coliseum.
Shipley's shot was her lone bucket of the game, but the Wildcats also received 24 points from Mack Lankford, 15 from
Paige Parliament, and 10 from
Renata Marquez as they improved to 3-2 on the season.
St. Edward's, meanwhile, dropped to 3-6 with the loss.
ACU shot 49 percent in the first half to enter the break up 42-30, and was up by as many as 16 before the Hilltoppers found their comfort zone beyond the 3-point arc.
After Marquez buried a jumper to put the Wildcats up 13 with 11:06 to go, Kelsey Barr responded with the first of her back-to-back treys that brought the lead down to 10. Two free throws from Kendra Field then trimmed the deficit to single digits, and Barr followed up with another three that made it a five-point (56-51) game with 9:35 remaining.
But before the Hilltoppers even had a chance to cheer their teammate, ACU quickly moved the ball back into their end, and from there sophomore
Tamenia Jourdan found Shipley wide open on the wing. Shipley's shot looked a bit off balance as she released the ball, but it ricocheted off the right part of the glass and dropped through the netting.
Lankford then caught fire in scoring the next two baskets that pushed the ACU lead to 12, and Parliament followed with five-straight points in less than a minute. Two more free throws and another layup from Lankford near the four-minute mark had the Wildcats up by 17, and then
Emily Miller gave ACU is biggest lead of the night at 19 with her fouls shots at the 2:20 mark.
All the ACU starters left the game at that point, and St. Edward's made the final score look more respectable with a game-ending 10-2 run. Ashley Shoemaker's 15 points led the Hilltoppers.
The Wildcats return to action Saturday, Dec. 10 vs. Cameron for the ACU Christmas Slam – a fun-filled basketball doubleheader jam-packed with singing, dancing, free food and prizes.
Festivities will begin just prior to the Wildcats' and Aggies' 5:30 p.m. start with campus clubs and organizations distributing free Christmas treats and drinks throughout the concourse. The club whose booth is judged to have the best design will win $100 from ACU Athletics.
Santa Claus and his elves will also be found on the concourse, and fans of all ages are encouraged to have their picture taken with jolly old St. Nick (Mark Lewis, Assistant Dean of Spiritual Life and Chapel Programs).
All fans in attendance will be eligible to win one of several gift cards, including one for $100 to United Supermarkets, $60 for Famous Dave's, and $40 for Buffalo Wild Wings.
Click here for more information on the ACU Christmas Slam.
