Abilene Christian
7-2
Stetson
2-3
Wildcats 'cap' December with win over Hatters
12/20/2020 2:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DeLAND, Fla. — The ACU women's basketball team got back on the winning track Sunday at the Edmunds Center at the 33rd Annual Hatter Classic. The Wildcats beat the host Stetson University, 70-55, and got a pair of double-doubles from Makayla Mabry and Alyssa Adams in the process. After the game, Adams and Anna McLeod were named to the all-tournament team and ACU heads back to Texas with a 7-2 record before Christmas.
Box Score
Turning Point: The second and third quarter.
- After both teams scored 14 points in the first quarter, it was all ACU for the next 20 minutes. The Wildcats outscored the Hatters 40-21 in the second and third period, and allowed just seven points in the second frame alone. ACU shot 14-22 from the floor (64%) and held Stetson to 9-31 (29%) from the field.
7? WINS before Christmas!
— ACU WBasketball (@ACUWBB) December 20, 2020
FINAL.#TearEmUp | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/GjRMO0vEUP
Key Plays
- Katie Horyna, who played a critical role at the point guard spot when Kamryn Mraz was in early foul trouble, got a layup in transition to give ACU an early 11-5 lead. It was the largest lead of the tournament for ACU at the time.
- Makayla Mabry hit back-to-back three-pointers to open the second quarter to push the lead back to six, 20-14. It forced a timeout by Stetson, and it set the tone for the quarter.
- Adams and McLeod each converted in the paint to push the lead to as many as 12, and ACU held a 10-point lead at halftime, 31-21.
- Mraz hit back-to-back free throws to push the lead to 25 in the third quarter, ACU's largest lead of the game.
- Mraz hit a three-pointer at the end of the third to give ACU a 19-point lead, ending any little momentum Stetson had at that point.
- Stetson came within nine points in the fourth quarter, but a key moment happened with two minutes left. Stetson missed a layup, got an offensive rebound, drew a foul, missed another shot, got another rebound, missed a three, got ANOTHER rebound, missed a second three, got ANOTHER board, and missed the final three. All that took a whole minute off the clock and the Hatters came up with no points. The game remained a nine-point lead for ACU, who hit late free throws to win by 15.
Congrats to @adamsalyssa95 for being named to the Hatter Classic All-Tournament Team!
— ACU WBasketball (@ACUWBB) December 20, 2020
What a weekend!#DoubleDoubles #TearEmUp | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/otqMnVaFXs
Congrats to @AnnaMcLeodd for being named to the Hatter Classic All-Tournament Team!#TearEmUp | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/2WctvyF6wr
— ACU WBasketball (@ACUWBB) December 20, 2020
Stat Pack
- Adams finished a 50-point weekend with another 24 points Sunday. She added 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season and the sixth of her career.
- Mabry tallied her first career double-double with a 17-point, 13-rebound effort, and made a season-best four three-pointers.
- Anna McLeod was one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.
- McLeod and Adams were named to the All-Tournament team for their performances over the weekend.
- Horyna was so good at handling pressure and running the point guard duties while Mraz was in foul trouble. Horyna finished with four points, two assists, and a steal.
- Mraz logged eight points and five assists.
- ACU made seven three-pointers.
- ACU outrebounded Stetson 46-19 and got 37 defensive boards to Stetson's eight offensive rebounds.
A PAIR OF DOUBLE-DOUBLES TODAY!@adamsalyssa95: 24 pts, 11 reb@makaylamabry: 17 pts, 13 reb
— ACU WBasketball (@ACUWBB) December 20, 2020
??????#TearEmUp | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/eBpF8V6QsJ
I was proud of how we defended. We made that a point and we rebounded really well and got stops when we needed to. It's nice to have seven wins before Christmas break, and now we can enjoy that time with our family before conference play.Julie Goodenough, Head Coach
Up Next
ACU opens the Southland Conference schedule on Saturday, Jan. 2 with a home game against the Lamar Cardinals. That is part of a men's-women's doubleheader with the first game beginning at 1 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on 98.1 The Ticket.
