HOUSTON – ACU continues the three-game road trip this week with a pair of games, beginning Wednesday night in H-Town against the Houston Baptist Huskies. The Wildcats (18-5, 10-4 SLC) will match up with HBU for the second time in a week, this time down in Sharp Gym. ACU got the best of the Huskies last Wednesday in Moody Coliseum, running away late in the game to win 71-54. The final game of the three-game road swing takes place Saturday in Hammond, La. against the Lady Lions of Southeastern Louisiana.
FOLLOW THE GAME
ACU at Houston Baptist: Wednesday, Feb. 19 (5 p.m.)
- Listen: 98.1 The Ticket (Zach Carlyle)
- Watch: Husky Sports Network
- Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
SERIES HISTORY
- This will be the 10th all-time meeting between the schools, and ACU looks to stay undefeated against HBU. The Wildcats are 9-0 all-time against the Huskies.
- ACU has averaged 75 points per game against Houston Baptist, while allowing under 60 per game to the HBU offense.
SOUTHLAND SIGNIFICANCE
- The scenario to clinch a Hercules Tires Southland Conference Tournament berth is very simple: if the Wildcats WIN Wednesday night, they are in. That's it.
- ACU sits in fourth place in the standings (10-4), a full game out of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, who swept ACU this season. Sam Houston State sits in second, while SFA remains at the top. ACU hosts both teams later this month.
ACU STORYLINES
- OFFENSIVE SUCCESS: The team ranks 14th in the country in scoring at 79.0 points per game, and the +22.1 scoring margin per game ranks ninth in all of women's college basketball as well. The 47.4% shooting from the field ranks seventh in America, and the 37.5% shooting from distance ranks ninth in the country.
- I CAN DISH IT OUT AND TAKE IT: ACU is 24th in the nation in assists per game (17.7), 70th in assist/turnover ratio (1.1), and 47th in steals per game (10.0).
- MID-MAJOR POLL: ACU checks in at No. 21 in the latest Mid Major Poll, moving down six spots from two week ago. The Wildcats were ranked No. 11 five weeks ago, the highest the team had ever been. The 'Cats have earned key road victories this season. The team topped then-No. 16 Wright State on Nov. 15, won at Portland on Nov. 29, who was receiving votes, and at a then 13-win Sam Houston State team. ACU has been ranked 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 21 this season.
- OFFENSE STIFLED IN LOSS TO CORPUS CHRISTI: The Islanders swept the season series from ACU after holding the Wildcats to just 59 points, their lowest in a conference game this season. The Wildcats shot 44% from the floor, but turned it over 18 times in the loss. Breanna Wright led the way with 20 points.
- STRONG START KEY TO BEATING HBU: ACU led 49-29 at halftime against Houston Baptist after hitting 10 three-pointers in the 20-minute time frame. Despite second-half trouble offensively, the Wildcats held on by 17, 71-54.
SCOUTING HOUSTON BAPTIST (6-17, 2-12 SLC)
- The Huskies are coming off their second conference win of the season, dismantling Lamar 72-59 in Houston.
- HBU is averaging just 60.3 points per game, and has been susceptible to giving up big performances defensively.
- Megan Valdez-Crader and Timia Jefferson lead the way offensively (11.3 and 10.8 PPG, respectively), and Julija Vujakovic leads the way with 19 made three-pointers.
- Valdez-Crader scored 15 points in the loss at ACU a week ago.
