ABILENE - Abilene Christian women's basketball won its 18th straight game at Moody Coliseum as the Wildcats dominated Howard Payne from start to finish Tuesday night, 87-52. Four Wildcats scored in double figures with starter
Sydney Shelstead and reserve
Sierra Allen each posting a double-double.
The victory evened ACU's early-season record at 1-1, while the Ladyjackets fell to 0-1.
ACU scored the first 16 points of the game and didn't allow HPU's first field goal – a 3-pointer by Djimonii Jackson – until there was 3:40 remaining in the first quarter. The two sides exchanged baskets on their next four possessions, and a Jackson jumper with 1:25 remaining cut ACU's lead to single digits. But the Wildcats were quick to recover with free throws from sophomore
Sara Williamson and layup by freshman
Lexi Kirgan.
HPU hit the first basket of the second quarter, which again reduced ACU's lead to nine points at 25-16, but the Wildcats scored the next three buckets, including a trey from freshman point guard
Breanna Wright.
From there the home team would never relinquish its double-digit lead.
ACU went on to outscore the Ladyjackets, 21-6 ,in the third quarter, and grabbed their largest lead of the game at 37 points following a
McKenzie Martin 3-pointer with 5:30 remaining.
Martin scored 13 points off the bench in 11 minutes, making three-of-six 3-pointers, while Allen's first career double-double was composed of a career high 13 rebounds and 12 points. Allen buried two treys as part of a 5-for-8 shooting performance and 11 of her 13 boards were off the defensive glass.
For Shelstead, her 20 point / 11 rebound double-double was the 20th of her career. She made 8-of-16 attempts, knocked down all four of her free throws, and her six steals set a new career high.
Suzzy Dimba also reached double figures tonight, scoring 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers. Defensively, she registered two blocks and pulled down three rebounds.
ACU shot 47.3 percent (35-74) from the floor overall and held the Ladyjackets to 31.7 percent shooting (20-63) as the visitors missed 22 3-point attempts (18.5). The Wildcats also posted a +34 rebounding margin, scored 52 points in the paint, and had 14 on the fast break.
Sarah Castillo was the Ladyjackets' top performer tonight with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The Wildcats return to action this Friday and Saturday as they play host to the Preseason WNIT Consolation Bracket. ACU plays Omaha Friday at 6 p.m. followed by UT Rio Grande Valley and North Texas at 8 p.m. The Wildcats play at 6 p.m. Saturday regardless of their result with the Mavericks.
