ABILENE -- In a game they absolutely had to win to keep their flickering post-season hopes alive, the ACU Wildcats put together one of their best performances of the season en route to a 74-61 win over Eastern New Mexico at Moody Coliseum.
Sophomore guard Mack Lankford had 31 points and ACU's defense forced 23 turnovers as the Wildcats ran their winning streak against the Zias to 22 straight games. The last time the Wildcats lost to ENMU was Feb. 17, 2001, when they dropped a 59-53 decision in Portales, N.M.
The win pushes the Wildcats to 9-13 overall and 4-12 in the Lone Star Conference, while the Zias fall to 8-14 and 6-10. The Wildcats are still two games out of eighth place in the LSC standings with four games to play, but at least they're still breathing for one of the eight berths in the LSC Post-Season tournament, which begins later this month in Allen.
The Wildcats trailed only once Saturday -- 3-0 early in the contest -- but other than that, they dominated play against the Zias. The win over Eastern New Mexico came just three days after one of the Wildcats' worst performances of the season in an 89-59 loss at West Texas A&M.
But after looking disinterested for most of that contest, the Wildcats turned it completely around Saturday afternoon in the first step toward saving their season.
ACU protected the ball (only 16 turnovers) and forced the team with the fewest turnovers in the league into 23. The Wildcats helped the Zias to 29.6 percent shooting from the field (21 of 71) and blocked eight shots. And ACU came up with 11 steals (four each by Lankford and
Renata Marquez), and dished out 15 assists in the victory.
Lankford -- who collected her sixth career 30-point game in the win -- was a force, continually driving to the hoop, finishing the game 9 for 22 from the field and 11 of 16 from the free throw line. She also collected seven rebounds, three assists and four steals in addition to her 31 points.
Kelsey Smith -- who didn't score and played just six minutes against West Texas A&M -- bounced back with a big effort Saturday, finishing with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and five blocked shots in 28 minutes of play. Marquez finished with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals in 37 minutes playing perhaps her most complete game of the season.
Eastern New Mexico -- which didn't get closer than eight points in the second half -- was led by Tori Northcutt, who scored 16 points, while Precious Herrin had 11 points off th bench before foulint out.
