Wildcats fall at Kingsville

Saturday, January 7

Kingsville, Texas

1 p.m.

Abilene Christian

Texas A&M-Kingsville

Photo by: Gary Rhodes

1/7/2012 4:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

KINGSVILLE – ACU's season-long problems with turnovers and poor shooting cost them again Saturday as the Wildcats dropped a 78-72 decision to Texas A&M-Kingsville in a Lone Star Conference women's basketball game at Hampton Inn Court.

The loss drops the Wildcats to 6-7 overall and 1-6 in the LSC, while the Lady Javelinas improve to 2-11 and 1-6. ACU is back in action Wednesday night in Commerce against Texas A&M-Commerce.

ACU – which was shooting just 39.5 percent and committing an average of 19 turnovers per game entering Saturday's game – shot just 43.6 percent (27 of 62) from the field against the Javelinas and committed 28 turnovers, the sixth time this year ACU has committed at least 20 turnovers in a game.

ACU's last lead was 48-46 with 16:17 left in the game after a Kelsey Smith layup, but Kingsville took charge after that point. The Lady Javelinas ran their lead to double-digits (69-58) when Shonta Dobbins hit a 3-pointer with 4:27 to play, and their lead didn't drop below six points the rest of the way.

Smith led all players with 28 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Wildcats, who dropped into a tie for ninth place in the LSC with Kingsville, just head of 0-5 Commerce. Renata Marquez had 10 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats, who played their fifth straight game without leading scorer Mack Lankford, who is out with a shoulder injury.