ABILENE – Redshirt sophomores
Kamryn Mraz and
Sarah Griswold set new career-highs in points, the defense allowed just 14 points in the second and third quarter combined, and the Abilene Christian women's basketball team rolled to a 94-55 win over UT-Permian Basin Tuesday night at the Teague Center. The Wildcats are 3-0 to start a season for the fourth consecutive year and the fifth time under head coach
Julie Goodenough. Coach Goodenough earned her 460th career win Tuesday night, and her 171st at ACU.
Turning Point
- Tied at 11 with 6:22 left in the first quarter, senior Alyssa Adams scored the first of her 16 points to give ACU the lead. The defense then took over, and UTPB would score just 21 more points until the fourth quarter, spanning 26 minutes.
Key Plays
- Of ACU's final 14 points of the first quarter, nine came from the free throw line. The Wildcats attacked the rim, and dominated the paint all night (28-14).
- Alyssa Adams scored six straight points in the second quarter, hitting four free throws and a layup.
- Kamryn Mraz dropped 11 points in the first half, including three triples from distance. The redshirt sophomore was well on her way to a new career-high in points (14).
- Anna McLeod scored the first five points of the third quarter, getting ACU to 50 points.
- Sarah Griswold asserted herself inside, scoring key buckets from inside and from the 10-15 feet away. Her mid-range jumper was a big part of her best day in her young Wildcat career (11 points).
- McLeod and Adams were deadly from the charity stripe, going 18-20 combined.
- UTPB shot 44% from the floor, but more importantly the ACU defense forced 29 turnovers, scoring 38 points off and 14 fast-break points.
- ACU allowed just 14 points in the second and third quarter combined. That stretch broke the game WIDE open.
The Numbers
- Five Wildcats finished in double-figures: McLeod (22 – one off her career best), Adams (16), Mraz (14 – career-high), Griswold (11 – career-high), and Madi Miller (11).
- Adams went 10-11 at the foul line; McLeod finished 8-9.
- ACU finished 27-34 at the charity stripe.
- ACU outscored UTPB 28-6 in the paint.
- ACU hit 12 three-pointers, keeping up their impressive start of double-digit three-pointers made in every game.
- The 'Cats are 3-0 for the fourth straight season. Under Julie Goodenough, the team has started 3-0 five times (the other year was 2013-14).
- Griswold led the way with eight rebounds; Adams finished with six.
"Good"-ie Bag of Quotes
- On the positives from the game…
- "We just really want to thank UTPB for allowing us to put them on their schedule. I thought they challenged us in ways we aren't able to do in practice. They showed us different looks. It was good to get that for our team."
- On Kamryn Mraz's performance…
- "You know, Kam did a great job. She really hasn't played a lot for us. She's been hurt over the last two years, and she was in some pretty challenging situations today. She did a great job."
- On the starters setting the tone…
- "We started with a turnover, which we don't want to see, but all of our starters scored in double-digits, and it was good to see them set the tone and give up the big lead."
- On her defense…
- "We tried to change our defense up a little bit, and we needed to slow down a bit and read everything. They hit some tough shots on us, but the turnovers were great."
- On Northern Colorado…
- "We are on the road for the first time, and this is a really good team. We are excited about this trip. They are playing really well, and this will be a great challenge for us."
Up Next
- ACU has its first real test of the season on Friday, Dec. 4 when they hit the road for the first time, traveling north to Greeley, Colo. for a date with the Northern Colorado Bears of the Big Sky Conference. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. central time.
