Kids Game on tap for WBB on Wednesday morning

ABILENE – The ACU women's basketball team opens up week number two of the season, and has a mirror schedule to the opening week of play. The Wildcats (1-1) will host a game on Wednesday before heading on the road on Sunday once again, this time hosting the annual Kids Game when the University of the Southwest (N.M.) comes to town. The game will tip at 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum, and local elementary schools will bring their students to the arena to watch the women's basketball team during the lunch hour. The game will air on TV on ESPN+ and on the radio on the ACU Sports Network.

SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHWEST (N.M.)

• ALL-TIME | 6th meeting (ACU leads, 5-0)
• LAST MEETING | ACU 99, USW 43 (Nov. 9, 2021 - Abilene)
• STREAK | ACU, w5
• IN ABILENE | ACU leads, 5-0
• IN HOBBS, N.M. | n/a
• NEUTRAL | n/a
• POSTSEASON | n/a

ACU STORYLINES

• OPENING WEEK TOP PERFORMANCES
  • Newcomer Zoe Jackson had a career game in the season opener against Howard Payne, dropping in 22 points on nine made shots, including a pair of three-pointers. Transfer Raychael Harjo went off on Sunday, scoring a career-best 22 at Rice, all while battling with four fouls. Harjo shot 10-14 from the floor with a pair of triples.
• PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
  • Sophomore Bella Earle was named to the preseason second team in the WAC Coaches Poll, while senior Madi Miller was named preseason all-league by the media. Earle shined as a rookie in 2021-22, playing in 30 games with seven starts, and scoring 7.3 points per game. She shot 44.5% from the floor and 86% from the foul line, while dishing out 63 assists. Miller accepted her fifth year to come back for one more ride with ACU, and her 119 career games played ranks sixth in ACU’s Division I history. Miller’s experience with 55 starts and her understanding of the culture and the locker room is invaluable to this team.
• PRESEASON POLLS
  • ACU was picked fifth in both the coaches and media poll in the WAC prior to the season starting. SFA was picked to win the league in both polls, followed by newcomer UT Arlington, Grand Canyon, and California Baptist.
• BRAND NEW MOODY
  • Moody Coliseum originally opened in February 1968, and after 32 years, the renovation process began. ACU moved over to the Teague Center for two seasons during the renovation, and finally the building was done for the 2022-23 season. The Wildcats open up the new facility on Nov. 9 against Howard Payne.
• FRIENDLY FACES
  • ACU returns just four from last year’s roster, and only three saw the floor. Fifth-year Madi Miller joins sophomores Bella Earle and Alexis Babineaux as returners with minutes, while sophomore Addison Martin returns, but will play for the first time after spending last season out with a knee injury she suffered in the preseason.
• TRANFERS
  • ACU brought in five transfers for the second consecutive season. Maleeah Langstaff (Northeastern State / Winthrop) is the lone grad transfer, while Apsen Thornton (Ouachita Baptist), Zoe Jackson (Butler), Brooke Jessen (UTRGV), and Raychael Harjo (Central Florida) are all sophomore transfers with three years left of eligibility.
• ROOKIES
  • The Wildcats signed four freshmen last November, and they get their first action this season. Reagan Fox joins Hampton Williams, Tristin Keller, and Claire Graham who will all compete for minutes.
• COACH GOODENOUGH’S MILESTONES
  • Head coach Julie Goodenough will coach her 810th career game on Sunday, and has earned 489 career victories, including 200 as the coach at ACU. Goodenough is in her 29th season overall and her 11th with the Wildcats.

SCOUTING SOUTHWEST (1-1, 0-0 RRAC)

• The Lady Mustangs will play in town on Tuesday night at McMurry before heading over to ACU's campus on Wednesday morning. The season has begun with a loss at Wayland Baptist and a win on the road at St. Thomas in Houston. The home opener for Southwest is not until Nov. 19 against North American.
• Sierra Smith led the way with 20 points at St. Thomas, while Brianna Ford scored 17 and Abigail Olivas dropped in 10.
• Southwest is out of the NAIA and plays in the Red River Athletic Conference.

GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS

• Free admission for everyone attending
• Elementary age kids from the following schools will be in attendance:
  • Taylor Elementary
  • Martinez Elementary
  • Lawn Elementary
  • Nancy Smith Elementary
  • Wylie East Elementary
  • Buffalo Gap Elementary
  • Purcell Elementary
  • Ward Elementary
  • Bonham Elementary

Don't forget to download the Cue Audio app before the game to participate in the pregame light show!

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#GoWildcats