ACU women's hoops officially on the road at Sam Houston and SFA

GAME #14
Abilene Christian (10-3, 2-0 WAC) at Sam Houston (5-6, 0-0 WAC)
Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022  |  3 p.m.  |  Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum  |  Huntsville, Texas

GAME #15
ACU (10-3, 2-0 WAC) at SFA (10-3, 1-0 WAC)
Monday, Jan. 10, 2022  |  6:30 p.m.  |  William R. Johnson Coliseum  |  Nacogdoches, Texas

HUNTSVILLE/NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The ACU women’s basketball team will indeed take the floor this weekend after having their game on Thursday moved due to COVID-19. The Wildcats (10-3, 2-0 WAC) take their top WAC record into two tough environments when they battle their former Southland and now new WAC rivals Sam Houston and SFA. Abilene Christian and Sam Houston will tip in Huntsville on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m., and then the team will head to Nacogdoches for a Monday, Jan. 10 game against SFA at 6:30 p.m. Both games will air on both ESPN+ and 102.7 The Bear.

ACU STORYLINES

• WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
  • Grad transfer Jamie Bonnarens has been spectacular this season, and is coming off her two best games in a row with ACU. Bonnarens averaged 18 points and 10.5 rebounds, and had a pair of double-doubles, including a 16-point, 11-rebound effort against Utah Valley, and a 20-point, 10-rebound game against Dixie State. The Oklahoma native shot 48% (13-28) from the floor, and hit six three-pointers as well. Bonnarens has scored in double digits each of the last 10 games, and is averaging 17.0 PPG during that stretch. Bonnarens has hit 26 three-pointers in the last nine games, and is shooting 42.4% (26-58) from deep in that stretch.
• WAC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
  • Bella Earle was named the WAC Freshman of the Week after tallying 13 total points, seven total rebounds, and three total steals against Utah Valley and Dixie State. The Denton Guyer High School product hit two huge three-pointers against Dixie State, and recorded six boards in that game.
• THREE-POINT PARTY
  • ACU has hit 145 three-pointers so far this season, the fifth-highest mark in the nation. The Wildcats have eight games with double-digit makes from distance. The team ranks 15th nationally with a 37.2 clip from behind the arc, which was moved back to match the men’s line in the off-season.
• NEW FACES
  • ACU has 15 players on the roster, the most in the Julie Goodenough era (2012). Included on that roster are eight new players, including three graduate transfers and five freshmen. The team brings in Emma Middleton, Jamie Bonnarens, and Tatum Barber as grad transfers, and freshmen include Bella Earle, Alexis Babineaux, Addison Martin (who will redshirt), Niyah Johnson, and Nykale Cramer.
• GIVIN’ IT MY BESTEST
  • Kamryn Mraz has been outstanding from behind the arc this season. The fourth-year Wildcat is hitting 49.2 percent of her looks, the fifth-best mark in the country. Mraz has 32 makes from downtown, and is hitting 2.5 three’s per game.
• COACH GOODENOUGH’S MILESTONES
  • Head coach Julie Goodenough earned her 481st career win against Utah Valley, and her 192nd as the coach at ACU. Goodenough is in her 28th season overall and her 10th with the Wildcats.

SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON (5-6, 0-0 WAC)

• The Bearkats haven't played since Dec. 20 due to COVID-19 protocols, when they defeated Arlington Baptist. This is the first WAC game of the season for Sam Houston.
• Sam Houston has always been known for scoring. Four players are averaging double figures for head coach Ravon Justice. Faith Cook leads the way with 15.5 PPG, Courtney Cleveland averaged 14.7 a night, Demaya Telemaque adds 12.4 per game, and Madelyn Batista scores 10.6 per contest.

SCOUTING SFA (10-3, 1-0 WAC)

• The reigning Southland Conference regular season and tournament champions have not played since Dec. 30 due to COVID-19 protocols.
• SFA has won two in a row, including their first WAC game against UTRGV.
• Three players average in double figures for the Ladyjacks (Stephanie Visscher - 14.0 PPG, Aiyana Johnson - 12.2 PPG, Avery Brittingham - 11.1 PPG).

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