Defense, interior play guide ACU to dominant win

Saturday, November 13

Abilene, Texas

6 p.m.

Abilene Christian

2-0,0-0WAC

UTSA

-02,00 CUSA

UTSA

Abilene Christian

Photo by: Jeremy Enlow

Defense, interior play guide ACU to dominant win

11/13/2021 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ABILENE – The post players combined for 29 points, the defense locked down and forced 18 turnovers, and the ACU women's basketball team dominated from start to finish Saturday night against UTSA. The Wildcats are now 2-0 for the fifth straight season after trailing for just 50 seconds early on in the game. ACU led by as many as 33 on its way to a 72-53 victory. It is the second win in five all-time games against the Roadrunners, as the teams met for the first time since 2016.

That's a 2-0 start for the fifth straight year!#GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/9YAo14L9co
— ACU Women's Basketball (@ACUWBB) November 14, 2021

Turning Point: The final 2:18 of the first quarter and the first 3:30 of the second quarter.
ACU trailed 11-9 with 2:18 left in the first, and turned it on from that point forward, going on a 15-0 run that spanned a total of nearly six game minutes. The first seven points of the run were all free throws, hit by Madi Miller, Kamryn Mraz, Emma Middleton, and Jamie Bonnarens. Tatum Barber then hit a layup in the second quarter, and the run really got going. Free throws by Middleton and Taylor Morgan were followed by a Morgan layup and the game was blown open. ACU would not trail again.

Key Plays
- 1Q | Sarah Griswold hit back-to-back mid-range jumpers with her signature jab step, scoring four of the first six ACU points.
- 1Q | Trailing 9-6, Bonnarens scored inside with an and-one foul and she would hit the free throw to tie the game.
- 1Q | The stretch of free throws during the 15-0 run set the tone. ACU would end up getting to the line 32 times.
- 2Q | Three times before the end of the half, UTSA cut the lead to 11 points, and all three times, ACU responded on the next possession to go back up 13 points. Middleton and Bonnarens helped close the half on a 6-0 run to lead 35-18 at the break.
- 3Q | ACU was so dominant inside and with defense, the three-pointer was irrelevant. ACU's first make from distance came with 1:26 left in the period, when Miller hit from the left wing.
- 3Q | The three was backed up by a corner three from Morgan, who received the extra pass from an open Miller.
- 4Q | Miller then opened the fourth with a three as the game was all but out of reach at that point, as the 'Cats led 56-26.
- 4Q | Barber hit a three to give ACU its largest lead at 33, 61-28.
- 4Q | Paige Emborsky joined in on the fun from the outside, hitting a three to put ACU up 66-41.

Stat Pack
- ACU held UTSA to single-digit scoring in both the second (7) and third (8) quarters.
- The Wildcats shot 42% from the floor and despite only hitting five of their 18 three-point attempts, they scored 30 points in the paint.
- ACU forced 18 turnovers and scored 12 points off.
- Barber and Middleton led the way with 13 points apiece, while Miller added 11.
- Griswold scored eight points, while Morgan added seven.
- Bella Earle led the way with seven rebounds, while Miller added five. Miller also dished out five assists.
- 10 different Wildcats scored in the game.

Up Next
ACU will host Angelo State next Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. for the annual Kids' Day. The game will air on ESPN+ and 102.7 The Bear.

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Twitter: @ACUsports | @ACUW BB
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#GoWildcats