KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An off-balance fadeaway jumper by junior
Whitney West with six seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner as Abilene Christian women's basketball held on to beat George Mason of the Atlantic 10, 88-86, Friday afternoon at the Swinney Recreation Center on the campus of UMKC during day one of the Plaza Lights Classic.
The Wildcats (4-1) led by 10 at the break and by as many as 15 points during the early stages of the second half, but the Patriots (3-3) proved to be relentless during the second half, coming back twice from double-digit deficits.
After a 3-pointer from West put the Wildcats ahead by 11 points at 80-69 with 4:22 remaining, George Mason countered with a trey by Jasmine Jackson, and then converted back-to-back Wildcat turnovers in four points.
ACU freshman
Alyssa Echols then hit a jumper in the paint to make it a six-point game, but soon afterward the Patriots took off on a 5-0 run and then tied the score at 84-84 on a wide-open three by Qierra Murray.
With the score tied for only the third time all game and first since the 13:11 mark of the first half, West hit the first of her two tie-breaking jump shots with :41 seconds to go. That lead did not last long, however, as the Patriots' all-conference selection Taylor Brown buried her final two free throws of the game to finish with 18 points.
On the ensuing possession, West dribbled down into paint despite Brown providing a fair amount of defensive pressure, took a step back to create some room, and let fly a off-balance shot that hit off the glass and through the hoop.
Brown attempted one final shot with two seconds remaining to finish with 21 tries, but it was blocked by West and into the arms of
Lizzy Dimba.
"This was a big time quality win on a neutral court," said head coach
Julie Goodenough. "We knew they were a high scoring side just like us and that defensively we'd have to sustain their 3-pointers and drives ... But I'm proud of my players for hitting those tough shots down the stretch and possessing the mental toughness to finish the game strong."
ACU went into halftime ahead by 10 points at 43-33 as the Wildcats received 20 points on 7-12 shooting (4-8 3-pointers) from sophomore guard
Alexis Mason. The Wildcats also got help from a rare technical foul on the George Mason bench for listing a wrong uniform in the scorebook, and ultimately, those two free throws made by
Lizzy Dimba proved to be the difference in the ball game.
ACU shot .486 from the field For the game and were .346 from 3-point range with four starters finishing in double figures: Mason (28), West (15),
Sydney Shelstead (19) and
Suzzy Dimba (18).
Shelstead and
Suzzy Dimba also posted double-doubles for the second consecutive game with Shelstead collecting 11 rebounds and Dimba with a game-high 12.
Lizzy Dimba had 10 rebounds to go along with her six points.
Brown tied for her team in lead in scoring (18 points) with Jasmine Jackson. Sandra Ngoie had a double-double for the Patriots with 11 rebounds and 13 points.
The Wildcats complete their stay in Kansas City Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. home game vs. the host Roos. UMKC downed the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State earlier today, 62-46, to improve to 2-3 on the young season, while the visiting Devils remain winless at 0-4.
Mason and Mississippi Valley State will meet Saturday at 1 p.m.
