ABILENE – Native Oklahoman
Dominique Golightly produced the fifth double-double of her career and first of the season Wednesday, pulling down 10 rebounds and tying her career high of 24 points in a 75-63 loss at Tulsa. The loss was Abilene Christian's first of the season following a 6-0 start, while the Golden Hurricane improved to 4-3.
Golightly, who previously scored 24 points last season at Arkansas, was 8-of-15 from the field tonight with a pair of 3 pointers and 6-of-10 from the free-throw line. Forwards
Makayla Mabry (13) and
Lexie Ducat (10) also scored in double figures for the Wildcats, which had a three-game road winning streak snapped in falling to 0-2 all-time vs. Tulsa.
ACU trailed by as many as eight points in the first half before taking off on a 13-5 second quarter run (capped by a Golightly 3-pointer) that put the Wildcats ahead for the first time at 34-32 with 2:21 remaining. After that, however, Tulsa scored the next two baskets within 30 seconds and the two sides went into the locker room tied at 36-36 following a pair of free throws by
Breanna Wright (9 points, 6 assists).
The Golden Hurricane started the third quarter scoring three of the first four baskets, and after Ducat cut their lead to 43-42 on the second of two consecutive layups, they responded with a game-changing 10-2 outburst that gave them a nine-point lead (53-44) at the 3:22 mark. The Wildcats were further hurt by a 4:33 field goal drought plus five turnovers and two misses from the free-throw line, but were able to stay close thanks to a fast-break layup from senior
Sara Williamson (5 points, 4 assists) and jumper in the paint from Ducat in the final minute that cut Tulsa's advantage to 55-50.
Unfortunately, Tulsa's Alexis Gaulden hit a layup at the buzzer (57-50) before totaling nine of her team-leading 24 points in the fourth quarter. Gaulden hit a 3-pointer with 6:42 remaining to give the Golden Hurricane their first double-digit lead of the game (64-53) at 6:42 followed by the first of six-consecutive Tulsa free throws. The Wildcats never got their deficit back to single digits as they connected on only two field goal attempts over the final 3:15.
ACU returns to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. home game vs. Schreiner.
