ABILENE – ACU outscored Sam Houston State 39-8 over the final 14:55 of the first half Saturday afternoon to beat the Bearkats, 78-56, and, thanks to a Northwestern State overtime upset of Stephen F. Austin in Louisiana, moved into sole possession of first place in the Southland Conference women's standings.
The Wildcats are now 15-7 overall and 9-1 in the Southland, one-half game in front of Central Arkansas and Lamar, which are both 9-2 in the league after wins Saturday afternoon. Sam Houston State, meanwhile, is now 1-19 and 1-9 in the league.
ACU will be back in action Wednesday night in a huge game in Conway, Ark., against Central Arkansas. The Wildcats grabbed a big 83-76 win over the Sugar Bears in Abilene on Jan. 7.
The Wildcats trailed 12-10 in Saturday's game after Angela Delaney converted a three-point play for the Bearkats' final lead of the game. That was the last time the game was competitive as the Wildcats immediately ripped off a 10-0 run to end the first quarter and take a 20-12 lead into the second quarter.
That run continued through a dominant second quarter as ACU outscored the Bearkats 29-8 in the second 10 minutes to carry a 49-20 lead into halftime.
Alexis Mason had 11 of her game-high 15 points in the 39-8 run to end the half, while
Suzzy Dimba had 10 points in that same spurt.
The Bearkats never threatened in the second half. In fact, the ACU lead never dropped below 20 points in the final 20 minutes of the contest.
Mason and
Lizzy Dimba had 16 points apiece for the Wildcats, while
Suzzy Dimba had 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Sydney Shelstead had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, leading an ACU effort on the glass that saw them out-rebound the Bearkats, 49-37.
