WBB offers sneak peek of 2016-17 with McMurry exhibition

Women's Basketball | 11/5/2016 4:22:00 PM

ACU vs. McMurry: Live Stats | Video | Game Notes

WBB Cat Trax Interviews: Head coach J. Goodenough | L. and S. Dimba | A. Mason and S. Shelstead
 

---

ABILENE - The defending Southland Conference regular-season champions from Abilene Christian are back on their home court for the first time in eight months Monday night at 7 p.m. when the Wildcats play host to McMurry in an exhibition game.

ACU returns 80 percent of its offense from last year's team that went 26-4 overall and won the regular-season title by one game over Central Arkansas with a 17-1 record. In recognition of last season's success, the Southland coaches and media ranked the Wildcats atop their preseason polls and tabbed all four of its starters to the all-conference team. Reigning league Player of the Year Alexis Mason and three-time All-Southland Conference Defensive Team honoree Suzzy Dumba were voted to the preseason first team, while forwards Sydney Shelstead and Lizzy Dimba received second team honors.

The Wildcats also bring back talented reserves Sierra Allen, McKenzie Martin and Sara Williamson, and during the offseason they added five key newcomers, including junior transfer Taudenciah Oluoch and true freshmen Dominique Golightly, Pamela Herrera,  Lexi Kirgan and Breanna Wright.

This unit was given a head start on the competition by playing two Canadian schools in early August, winning both games behind significant comeback efforts. The Wildcats overcame a 13-point first quarter deficit to beat the Queen's University Gaels, 85-55, and the following night they took off on an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to erase a two-point Carleton lead, prevailing, 75-66. Suzzy Dimba led the Wildcats with 16 points vs. Carleton and Mason had 15 vs. Queen's.

This season additionally marks the first time since the start of ACU's DI transition that the Wildcats find themselves in a national preseason poll as the voters of the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 placed them in the receiving votes category. ACU earned 68 points, which places them 31st of 58 ranked schools.

The Wildcats have been listed in this poll each week since Dec. 27, 2015, and reached their highest ranking of No. 17 on March 8 after topping both Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to end the regular season.