Texas Tech topples ACU WBB to end 2018

LUBBOCK – A 22-0 first-quarter Texas Tech run set the stage for its 105-54 win over Abilene Christian women's basketball Saturday at United Supermarkets Arena.

The Lady Raiders (9-2) and Wildcats (7-4) exchanged baskets on their first few possessions, but after the visitors went ahead 5-4 on a Makayla Mabry (8 points) layup, Texas Tech held ACU scoreless for close to six minutes in grabbing a 26-5 lead.

Brittney Brewer scored four of her 25 points during this stretch, and after the first media timeout, Chrislyn Carr sank five consecutive field goals, including three 3-pointers. Carr finished the game with 29 points.

A couple of buckets from Mabry and Josie Larson (8 points) late in the first quarter got the Wildcats past double digits, but they still trailed by 18 after the first quarter, and were down 36 at the break as the Red Raiders used a 21-7 run to close the half.

Texas Tech continued to be aggressive to begin the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 14-7 within the first five minutes. Five of the Lady Raiders first six third-quarter baskets were scored in the paint, while Carr buried another trey at the 6:39 mark.

Texas Tech outscored ACU in the paint, 52-22, scored 25 points off 18 turnovers, and 21 via fast break.

The Lady Raiders eclipsed 80 points on a Sydney Goodson 3-pointer with three minutes remaining in the third quarter, and hit 90 on a free three throw by Zuri Sanders with 20 seconds left in taking a 49-point lead into the final quarter.

Carr was still on the court to begin the fourth quarter and sank her 11th field goal of the game within the first minute to put her side of 92-41, and with 3:50 remaining the Lady Raiders became the Wildcats' first D1 opponent to top 100 points in a single game on a 3-pointer by Mia Casteneda.

ACU last surrendered 100 or more points early in the 2010-11 season to UT Permian Basin (L, 105-91).

ACU was led in the scoring column tonight by Breanna Wright and Madi Miller with nine points, while Dominique Golightly, Mabry and Larson all totaled eight. Mabry also was the Wildcats leading rebounder with six.

ACU shot 28.8 percent from the floor (21-73) and was 9-of-30 from 3-point range. By comparison, Texas Tech sank 58.7 percent (37-63) of its baskets including 11 from 3-point range. The Lady Raiders also dropped in 20 of 31 (64.5) free-throw attempts, while ACU went to the charity stripe only four times.

The Wildcats return to action Wednesday, Jan. 2 for a 7 p.m. game at New Orleans to begin Southland Conference play.