ABILENE - A 22-for-25 second-half effort from the free-throw line combined with double-doubles from
Lizzy Dimba and
Sydney Shelstead helped Abilene Christian battle back from a six-point third quarter deficit to beat New Orleans, 68-55, in the conference home opener for the Wildcats Tuesday night at Moody Coliseum.
Winners of four-straight games, the Wildcats improved to 8-6 overall and 2-0 vs. the league, while the Privateers slipped to 6-6 and 1-1. Junior guard Randi Brown, who Monday was crowned Southland Conference Player of the Week after scoring a league single-game record 45 points vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, tonight was limited to 16 points on 6-of-26 shooting (2-11 3-point range) as her side shot just 33.3 percent (23-66) from the floor.
In addition to their shooting struggles, the Privateers were overpowered on the boards, 56-39, and made 17 turnovers that led to 21 Wildcat points. They also failed to match ACU's ability to get to the free-throw line, making just seven of 12 attempts (.583).
By comparison, the Wildcats drew 23 personal fouls that led to 29 trips to the charity stripe – 25 of which came in the second half. ACU made 10 of 11 freebies in the third quarter to enter the final period ahead by nine points at 48-39, and then closed the game making 12 of 14 attempts.
While the free throws helped seal the victory, the game was won thanks to opportunistic defensive plays and a couple of clutch 3-point baskets from reserves
Sara Williamson and
Dominique Golightly.
UNO led the Wildcats by one point at the break, 29-28, and pushed its lead all the way to six at 36-30 following a Ariele Davis jumper at the seven-minute mark. The Privateers were then called for an offensive foul on their next possession, and after Jewel Angelo came down with a rebound,
Lizzy Dimba stole the ball and converted the and one after being hacked by Hallie Matthews.
That series got the Wildcats to within three points of the lead. UNO then received a jumper by Mariah Wright at the 5:33 mark, but that would be the Privateers final field goal of the third quarter as the Wildcats finished on a 15-1 run. Williamson sparked the run with a 3-pointer at the 4:45 mark, and just over a minute later Golightly gave ACU the lead for good with her lone trey of the game.
UNO's field goal drought lasted all the way to the 8:39 mark of the fourth quarter, and despite trailing by double digits several times, the Privateers managed to climb back into the game courtesy of three-consecutive buckets by Brown. She made back-to-back layups near the three-minute mark that cut the visitors lead to seven and then nailed a 3-pointer that made it a two-possession game with 1:27 remaining.
With 56 seconds remaining, Brown would foul
Breanna Wright whose missed free throw attempt led to a game-clinching layup by
Lizzy Dimba after Shelstead came down with one of her nine offensive rebounds.
ACU went on to make its final four free throws in improving to 3-1 all time vs. UNO and extending its home conference winning streak to 13 games.
Four Wildcat starters scored in double figures tonight led by
Lizzy Dimba's 15-point / 11-rebound double-double. Shelstead was right behind her with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Suzzy Dimba blocked five shots to go along with her 13 points and eight rebounds, and Wright totaled 11 points with five assists as part of her third complete game of the season.
Alexis Mason contributed nine points, seven rebounds and four assists in addition to one block and a steal.
Angelo was UNO's second leading scorer tonight with 12 points and Shania Woods matched
Suzzy Dimba's block total with five.
The Wildcats continue their homestand Saturday with a 2 p.m. game vs. Central Arkansas that will be streamed on ESPN3. The ACU men's game vs. Stephen F. Austin will follow at 4 p.m.
