ABILENE – The ACU women's basketball team opened its inaugural season in the Western Athletic Conference Thursday afternoon at the Teague Special Events Center, and the task was a tall one. The Wildcats matched up with the WAC representative in last year's NCAA Tournament, Utah Valley, and the Wolverines brought their two first team all-conference players into town. ACU, however, was up to the task, bouncing back from as much as a 12-point deficit in the first half to top UVU, 69-63. The Wildcats start 1-0 in their new conference, and move to 9-3 on the season. Four players scored in double figures in the win.
Turning Point: An 11-0 run near the end of the first half.
ACU trailed by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, and got down 31-19 with 3:40 to go until the break. Then the defense started created opportunities for the offense.
Bella Earle got free down the floor after a
Tatum Barber steal and scored, and that got the momentum started.
Emma Middleton scored a possession later after another Barber takeaway.
Kamryn Mraz then got her hand on the ball on defense and she would hit a three to cut the deficit to three points. ACU closed the half by scoring 11 fo the final 14 points, and trailed just 34-30 at the break.
Key Plays
- 1Q | ACU scored the first four of the game and led 8-2 out of the gate, forcing a Utah Valley timeout.
- 1Q | ACU led 10-9 after
Taylor Morgan free throws, but UVU would build a 16-10 lead after a 7-0 run.
Jamie Bonnarens put an end to that with a jumper to get it to 16-12.
- 2Q | Bonnarens hit a big three with ACU trailing 20-12 to get the deficit back to five.
- 2Q | The first 12-point deficit saw ACU trail 27-15, and Barber put an end to that with a triple to cut it to 27-18.
- 2Q | The 11-0 run began with free throws from Middleton to make it 31-21.
- 3Q | Mraz hit two huge three-pointers. The first started the scoring in the third period, and the second tied the game at 36.
- 3Q |
Madi Miller hit a three-pointer to put ACU back in front, 42-40.
- 3Q | Bonnarens hit a corner three to end the third quarter, putting the Wildcats up five going to the fourth.
- 4Q | Wih the 'Cats up five, Middleton got a steal and got it up to Earle for the layup to give ACU its largest lead of the game (7), 55-48.
- 4Q |
Tatum Barber missed a pair of free throws and a foul put UVU at the line to get within two, 65-63, with 30 seconds left. However, Barber got the ball again after the Wildcats broke pressure. The grad student barely got the ball past half court before the 10 second timer was up, and Barber drew the foul and hit both shots to go back up four, essentially icing the game.
Stat Pack
- Bonnarens recorded her ninth-straight double-digit scoring game with 16 points, and added 10 rebounds for ACU's second-straight double-double of the season.
- Barber recorded 13 points with three steals and three rebounds.
- Mraz hit three huge triples, and finished the game with 12 points.
- Griswold was the fourth Wildcat in double figures with 10 points, and added a pair of boards and took another charge.
- Miller recorded six assists to go with her four points.
- ACU forced 16 turnovers and just turned it over four times. The four turnovers are the second-fewest this season.
Up Next
ACU will wrap up the home stand and the opening conference weekend in the Teague Center on Saturday, Jan. 1 against Dixie State. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+.
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