ABILENE – Abilene Christian women's basketball looks to strengthen its place in the Southland Conference standings Saturday afternoon when it visits the McDermott Center in San Antonio for a 1 p.m. game vs. Incarnate Word. The Wildcats lead their all-time series vs. their rivals, 21-9, but had their nine-game series winning streak snapped to end the 2017-18 regular-season, 58-46, last time they visited the Alamo City.
ACU and UIW also played a close game last February at Moody Coliseum with the Wildcats prevailing 58-56 on a game-winning layup from
Sara Williamson.
UIWCardinals.com will offer
real-time stats of Saturday's game, which also will air locally on
98.1 FM - The Ticket with
Grant Boone handling the play-by-play.
Southland Conference leaders Stephen F. Austin (11-0) and Lamar (11-1) clinched their spots in the postseason tournament earlier this week, and for the moment the Wildcats are next in line to punch their ticket with a third-place record of 8-4, which has them tied with Sam Houston State. Nicholls, which lost a 76-66 game to ACU earlier this week, also is part of the playoff picture at 7-4.
The Wildcats' triumph over the Colonels snapped a two-game losing streak, and featured an impressive showing by Williamson, who totaled 24 points off the bench in 25 minutes on 11-of-14 shooting (.786). She also stole four passes, one of which led to a fast-break layup in the third quarter, and blocked two shots. ACU was further helped on offense by starters
Dominique Golightly,
Makayla Mabry and
Madi Miller, who combined for all nine of the team's 3-point baskets.
Miller made her first collegiate start vs. Nicholls and provided seven points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal in 26 minutes.
Incarnate Word is at the opposite end of the league standings at 3-8, but the Cardinals recently posted a 76-69 home win vs. Southeastern La. in which they received 47 bench points and knocked down 10 3-pointers. Gabbi Bowie led her side with 17 points, while reserves Luden Henry and Angelica Wiggins combined for 27 points in 30 minutes. UIW additionally won the rebounding battle, 44-34, and held the Lady Lions to under 40 percent shooting.
