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ABILENE – The Southland Conference and local fan base may not have lofty expectations for Abilene Christian women's basketball entering 2017-18, but those feelings are not shared by the Wildcats' locker room.
"When the conference picked us fifth, our sophomore class was like, 'excuse me?' said sixth-year head coach
Julie Goodenough, who led ACU to the last two Southland Conference championships. "This could be one of the most exciting teams we've had here – we're the sixth youngest in the nation and are anxious to see what this season holds.
"It's going to look different for awhile. But these players are here to inspire and motivate, and I know they'll be fun to support. They are putting pressure on themselves to maintain the high standards of this program, so the product on the floor will be something to be proud of."
The new-look Wildcats have the opportunity to showcase their talents early on for the home crowds as they start the 2017-18 campaign with a three-game homestand. ACU tips off its first season of NCAA DI postseason eligibility at 5:30 p.m. Friday vs. Southwest, and will then play host to Schreiner Monday at 7 p.m. and Idaho a week from Saturday (Nov. 18).
The Wildcats beat the Vandals on their home court in Moscow, Idaho two seasons ago in overtimes. ACU also has all-time winning records against Southwest and Schreiner.
Youth is queen on this year's team with 75 percent of the ACU roster composed of freshmen (five) and sophomores (four). And according to research compiled by the Elon Sports Information Office, only five schools have younger rosters than the Wildcats: UNC Greensboro (87.7% of roster), Florida International (80) and San Jose State (80), Utah State (76.9) and Air Force (76.5).
Additionally, there are only seven schools nationwide which have a higher percentage of true freshmen than ACU: FIU, SJSU, Air Force, Elon, Savannah State, Fordham and Kennesaw State.
Sophomore Breanna Wright is ACU's lone returning starter, and of the other six returning letter winners only junior guard Sara Williamson has any starting experience. Williamson started nine games at the start of last season in place of an injured
Alexis Mason, and helped ACU win two Preseason WNIT home games vs. Omaha and UT Rio Grande Valley.
Senior Sierra Allen has seen time in 84 games without a single start, and in their first season with the Wildcats a year ago, sophomore Dominique Golightly appeared in all 32 contests with no starts followed by Pam Herrera (27g), Lexi Kirgan (25g), and Taudenciah Oluoch (12g).
Oluoch is a senior who transferred to ACU from Tyler Junior College during the summer of 2016.
The Wildcats' freshman class is composed of guards Kayla Galindo, Josie Larson and Laura Rowe and posts Alyssa Adams and Makayla Mabry. Waiting in the wings is Rice transfer Lexie Ducat, who must sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. Ducat will have two years of eligibility remaining when she takes the court at the start of 2018-19.
Friday's opponent Southwest is based in Hobbs, N.M., and is a NAIA school based in the Red River Conference. The Mustangs played the Wildcats once before during the 2015-16 season and suffered a 91-39 defeat – a game which served as the 600th of Goodenough's coaching career.
Southwest is off to a 1-3 start this season. Its only victory was a one-point decision over Northern New Mexico, while losses have come against Wayland Baptist, Embry-Riddle and Oklahoma Panhandle State.
