ABILENE – Sophomore grad transfer
Jamie Bonnarens led the way with 13 points,
Madi Miller,
Bella Earle, and
Taylor Morgan each added 12, but the ACU women's basketball team fell at the very end Thursday night to the Grand Canyon Lopes. GCU's Amara Graham hit a three-pointer with nine seconds to play to put the visitors up one, and after a charge call on ACU, the Lopes hit two free throws and walked out of the Teague Center with a 74-69 victory over ACU. The 'Cats got two starters back from COVID-19 protocols Thursday, and the whole team will have another quick turnaround when they welcome in New Mexico State on Saturday. It will be the fourth game in the eight-day stretch for the Wildcats.
Turning Point: The final 10 seconds.
Graham hit the three to go up 70-69 with nine seconds to play, and on the ensuing possession, ACU's
Tatum Barber was called for the charge. It gave the ball back to GCU, and after a quick foul, Graham hit both free throws to lead 72-69 with 4.5 seconds. ACU had one last look at it, but GCU got a steal to seal the game.
Key Plays
- 1Q | ACU trailed 6-0 early, but after free throws and a three-pointer from Barber, the game would go back-and-forth the rest of the way.
- 1Q |
Bella Earle hit the first of three triples on the night to put ACU in front, 12-11, with 3:57 left in the frame.
- 1Q | Earle hit another corner three, this time with a second left to put ACU up 19-17 after one quarter.
- 2Q | ACU trailed 29-21 in the second quarter, but
Jamie Bonnarens, who was playing for the first time since the Jan. 1 game against Dixie State, hit a triple to get back within five.
- 3Q | Bonnarens opened the second half with a quick bucket, then hit a three to score the first five points in 40 seconds.
- 3Q |
Madi Miller buried a three-pointer to tie the game, giving ACU eight points in the first 1:15 of the half.
- 3Q | ACU trailed 57-46 with 1:28 left in the quarter, but the 'Cats scored the final four with two free throws and an
Emma Middleton layup.
- 4Q | Neither team scored for the first four minutes of the fourth, but then Morgan took over at the foul line. The sophomore would hit 8-of-8 in the quarter.
- 4Q | The third three from Earle made it a two-point game, when ACU trailed 57-55.
- 4Q | Down 64-59, Morgan hit two more foul shots and Middleton converted on the baseline to cut it to one, 64-63.
- 4Q | Bonnarens hit two free throws to go up 69-67, setting up the crazy finish.
Stat Pack
- Bonnarens keeps her double-digit scoring streak alive with 13 points. It is now 11 straight games with 10 or more points.
- Miller added 12 points and matched a career-high with eight rebounds.
- Earle added 12 off the bench, hitting all three of her attempts from distance.
- Morgan, who came off the bench with Mraz back in the lineup, added 12, and went a career-high 10-of-10 at the foul line.
- Middleton added nine off the bench with three rebounds.
- Barber scored seven and snagged six boards.
Up Next
ACU will wrap up its busy week with a home game on Saturday, Jan. 15 against New Mexico State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN+.
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