ABILENE - Four consecutive baskets near the start of the second half set the tone for a dominating performance by the Abilene Christian women's basketball team Saturday night at Moody Coliseum, as the Wildcats cruised to a 91-64 victory over Wayland Baptist in their season opener.
The victory was ACU's third straight in its all-time series vs. the Flying Queens, which dates all the way back to 1971, and lifted its Opening Night record to 27-17. ACU hasn't lost a season-opener since 2009 and the 91 points were its most against Wayland Baptist through 16 meetings.
The Wildcats entered halftime comfortably ahead at 40-26 largely because of a defensive effort that converted 16 WBU turnovers into 15 points. ACU's defense also shut down the Flying Queen's long-range game as they missed six times in the first half on their way to finishing the game 1-of-11.
ACU too struggled some out of the gate offensively - hitting on just 5-of-24 3-point attempts - but in the paint, sophomore center
Sydney Shelstead chipped in seven first-half points, while sophomore post
Lizzy Dimba started 2-of-3 with a pair of free throws.
The Wildcats' shooting fortunes immediately changed for the better coming out of the break.
Lizzy Dimba missed a layup to start, but sophomore guard
Alexis Mason put back her offensive rebound to kick start a 7-0 run. Junior guard
Whitney West (nine points) then drilled one of her three treys and
Lizzy Dimba followed with another easy basket to give the home team its first 20-point cushion of the game a minute into the second half.
Wayland Baptist scored the next two points on a pair of free throws by LaTericka Anderson, but the Flying Queens wouldn't hit their first field goals of the second half until the 16:48 mark.
Suzzy Dimba tossed in layup to make it a 22-point game seconds before the 16-minute media timeout, and coming out of that break newcomer and sophomore guard
Ellyn Avery and Mason nailed consecutive back-breaking 3-pointers that pushed the Wildcats' advantage to 59-33.
Avery would hit a second three with 12:02 remaining to give ACU its largest lead of the night at 33 points. The Lenorah, Texas, native and Midland College transfer scored eight points in her Wildcat debut - six of which came during ACU's 51-point second half in which it shot 50 percent (19-38).
Mason led all scorers tonight with 19 points (her 20th career game in double figures) on 7-of 16 shooting, while the Dimba twins combined for 33 points on 11-of-24 shooting with 18 rebounds.
Suzzy Dimba's 16 point/11-rebound double-double was the 12th of her career, and extended the Dimbas' streak of leading ACU in rebounds to an 18th game. Mason was the last Wildcat other than Suzzy or
Lizzy Dimba to lead the Wildcats in rebounds when she pulled down six vs. Jacksonville on Dec. 21, 2013.
Lizzy Dimba's line included a 7-of-9 effort at the charity stripe, six defensive rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Newcomers
Paris Webb,
Madison Parker,
Sierra Allen and
Alyssa Echols also made their ACU debuts this evening. Webb hit both her field goals to finish with five points. Parker pulled down three rebounds, while Echols recorded a game-high four steals and Allen scored five points in nine minutes.
Wayland Baptist had two players post a double-double. Anderson finished with 11 points and 17 rebounds (nine off the offensive glass), and Stephanie Afunugo hit 7-of-10 free throws to finish with 17 points and 10 rebounds (seven defensive).
The Wildcats continue their season-opening homestand Monday at 7 p.m. vs. Howard Payne.
