THIBODAUX, La. – Trailing by three with 20 seconds left, the ACU women's basketball team turned to one of their most storied players in program history on Saturday in Thibodaux, La. Senior
Breanna Wright came out of the timeout, used a screen, and buried a three-pointer on the left wing to tie the game at 78 with 11 seconds to play in regulation against the Nicholls Colonels. The Wildcats did not look back in overtime and went on to win the game, 95-84. With the victory, ACU improves to 9-1, the best start in the Division I era of the program.
The Turning Points
- The Wildcats trailed by a point with 38 seconds left in regulation. On the ensuing offensive possession,
Dominique Golightly's three missed short, and Nicholls gathered the rebound. After a foul, the Colonels had a chance to go up three points at the free throw line. The free throws were good, and the home team led 78-75 at the 20-second mark. Head coach
Julie Goodenough called timeout to advance the ball into the front court, and Wright's heroics evened the game.
- Nicholls had two chances then to win the game, but after a jump ball forced by ACU, the game-winning shot was offline, and the game went into overtime.
- The three-point shot decided the game, and it was no different in overtime.
Makayla Mabry hit a huge shot to put the team up five after Golightly hit two free throws, and in a one-point game
Anna McLeod hit her biggest shot as a Wildcat to push the lead to four. Golightly hit the dagger in OT to go up 13 with just 29 seconds left.
Key Plays
- ACU trailed early and often in the game, including 17-7 in the first quarter. But in the second quarter, the Wildcats rallied back to take the lead when
Madi Miller and
Makayla Mabry recorded back-to-back three-pointers. The Wildcats led 29-27 at the media timeout.
- Golightly went on a 5-0 run in the third period to cut the deficit to 46-44, and trailing by five later on,
Madi Miller hit a big three. ACU tied the game when
Alyssa Adams hit a reverse layup, and the visitors got the game to the fourth quarter even at 56.
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Makayla Mabry hit a three-pointer at the 6:46 mark of the fourth to give ACU a 65-62 lead, and
Lexie Ducat would score on a layup moments later to push the lead to five. However, Nicholls responded as they did all game, and got the game tied again.
- Adams hit another reverse layup to give the Wildcats a 75-72 lead with 1:33 left, but Nicholls answered again with a layup and a jump shot to go up one, setting up Wright's heroics at the end of regulation.
- The last four three-pointers made by the Wildcats came from four different players (Wright, Mabry, McLeod, Golightly).
Stat Pack
- Three-pointers were the difference. ACU went 16-of-40 from distance; the 40 attempts were the most in a game since Jan. 26, 2017 against Incarnate Word. The 16 makes are the most since the Soutland Conference Tournament quarterfinal game against Central Arkansas last season.
- After allowing 11 offensive rebounds in the first half, Nicholls did not have as much success in the second half and overtime, recording just five. Rebounds finished even, 37-37.
- Nicholls converted inside, winning the points in the paint battle, 50-34.
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Dominique Golightly set a new season-high with 25 points, and was one away from matching her career-best. Golightly shot 9-of-19 from the floor, and added eight assists, six rebounds, and six steals.
- Wright recorded 21 points on 7-of-15, and added six assists. The senior played all 45 minutes Saturday.
- Junior
Makayla Mabry went for 14 points and hit four huge three-pointers. Mabry is a career 42% three-point shooter in over 70 career games.
- Junior
Anna McLeod tallied 14 points as well, and hit the biggest three of her ACU career in the overtime period.
- Ducat and Adams went for seven and eight, respectively, with both players hitting clutch shots in the second half.
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Madi Miller filled the stat line with six points, three rebounds, a pair of assists, and two steals.
"Good"-ie Bag of Quotes
Head Coach Julie Goodenough
On the way Nicholls played…
"They are a scrappy, scrappy group. They got out on us early, and had control of that game for 30 minutes. We knew we had to overcome that. I was proud of the way we fought through it all and hit some clutch shots late in the game."
On the three-pointer at the end of regulation to tie the game…
"We wanted to get Brea the ball, and we wanted to get a shot up early in case of a miss. We needed to give ourselves plenty of time in case we needed to foul. But that's Brea being Brea. She's hit so many big shots for us."
On the break coming up…
"This semester was so wild. We played to big conference games, and we are so pleased to be 2-0. It is not easy to deal with all the stuff you deal with at the end of the semester with finals and everything. It will be nice to have our players get a much-needed break to step away from things. We are excited about the upcoming week.
Up Next
- The Wildcats have a week off for Christmas, and then will welcome in the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday, Dec. 28 in Moody Coliseum. Tipoff is slated for 12 p.m. The conference season resumed on Saturday, Jan. 4 when the Lamar Cardinals come to town. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
