Wildcats 'cap' December with win over Hatters

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.