THIBODAUX, La. – If we thought the ACU women's basketball team would have a sluggish start to a game after a long road trip, think again. The Wildcats led 22-2 and 40-9 on their way to a dominant 97-71 win over the Nicholls Colonels Saturday afternoon. ACU (6-1) faced a familiar foe in Nicholls as the former Southland Conference rivals met for the first time as non-conference opponents. The Wildcats hit 11 three-pointers and had five players score in double-figures on their way to their third-straight victory and sixth of the season.
Turning Point: The first 4:37 of the game.
ACU built an immediate lead right from the opening jump. It has been a theme for the Wildcats during the past three wins, and it continued Saturday. The 'Cats scored the first eight points of the game and eventually led 22-2. The Wildcats led 34-5 at the end of the first quarter; the five points allowed are the fewest allowed in any quarter this season for ACU.
Key Plays
- 1Q |
Jamie Bonnarens got off to a great start, hitting the game's first three to get the scoring started.
- 1Q |
Kamryn Mraz hit her first three of the game to put the 'Cats up 8-0.
- 1Q | Bonnarens, Mraz, and Mad Miller combined for four-straight three-pointers to push the lead to 22-2. The game felt over at that point.
- 1Q | Bonnarens kept her hot quarter going to two more makes in the paint, and the route was on.
- 1Q | ACU then hit seven-straight free throws to put the first quarter out of the reach, and in effect, the game, leading 32-5. Bonnarens put the exclamation point on the quarter with a layup to go up 34-5.
- 2Q |
Bella Earle turned the corner from the right wing and drove left for a layup to push the lead to its largest, 40-9.
- 3Q | Miller, Bonnarens, Mraz, and
Tatum Barber all attacked in the paint to open the third quarter and built the lead back to 56-29.
- 3Q |
Sarah Griswold hit a rare three, just her second of the season, in the corner for a 30-point lead.
- 4Q |
Taylor Morgan hit a triple to put the Wildcats up to 80 points in the game, leading 80-48.
- 4Q |
Alexis Babineaux entered the game and scored immediately in the paint to push the lead to 86-50.
- 4Q |
Alice Stevenson hit the three to give ACU 97 points, the second-highest total of the season.
Stat Pack
- ACU has hit double-digit three-pointers for the third-straight game, connecting on 11 of their 28 attempts.
- Bonnarens finished with 19 points, a new season-best. The grad transfer hit two more three-pointers, giving her 10 makes from deep in the last four games.
- Griswold scored 12 points, giving her 25 in the last two games.
- Bonnarens and Miller led the way with five rebounds each; Miller dropped in 11 points with it and two three-pointers.
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Emma Middleton scored 11 points and tallied four rebounds; she also hit five free throws.
- Mraz scored 10 points to round out the five Wildcats in double figures.
- Miller added four assists as well.
Up Next
ACU will finally return home after four consecutive games on the road. The Wildcats will host Wright State on Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Teague Center. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on 102.7 The Bear.
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