ABILENE — Grad transfer Maleeah Langstaff had her best day in Purple and White,
Madi Miller had her best game of the season, and the Wildcat women's basketball team fought all the way to the final seconds against a good UTSA team on the road Sunday afternoon. ACU (2-2) never led, but stayed within nine the entire game and slightly outshot the Roadrunners (46%-45%). UTSA pulled away a bit late in the third quarter, and held on in the fourth to top the 'Cats, 76-70. The home team made late free throws, and hit a big jumper to go up five late in the game. ACU heads to the UNT Thanksgiving Tournament in Denton next weekend at an even 2-2 through the first four games of the year.
Key Plays
- Langstaff got it going with the Wildcats' first basket of the game with a jumper in the paint to snap an early 4-0 deficit.
- Down 8-2, Addison Martin and Bella Earle scored back-to-back baskets to cut it to 8-6.
- ACU trailed by as many as eight in the first quarter (17-9), but scored seven of the final 11 points in the period to get it to 21-16 after one. Earle hit a big triple near the end of the frame.
- Miller scored five in a row early in the second quarter, and the game was tied at 23. The veteran buried a three-pointer and followed it with a layup to even it up.
- From that moment, UTSA went on a 10-2 run to go up eight with 6:58 to go until the half. ACU then responded, and scored 14 of the final 19 points of the half to get within two, 39-37, at halftime. Earle hit a three-pointer, then Langstaff scored the final eight of the half for the 'Cats.
- Zoe Jackson, coming off the bench, hit a jumper to get within one, 48-47, halfway through the third quarter. UTSA then went on a key 8-0 run to push the lead to nine, their largest of the game, 56-47. ACU trailed by seven going to the fourth quarter.
- Aspen Thornton, getting the start at point guard, hit a huge three-pointer to get the Wildcats within one, 60-59, with 7:22 to go in the ballgame. However, UTSA went on a very slow, 7-0 run to go up eight, and all of a sudden there were only three minutes left in the game.
- Down 70-63 with 1:44 left, Jackson hit a jumper to go down five, and then after a defensive stop, Langstaff scored in the paint to make it a three-point game, 70-67, with 53 seconds remaining.
- The dagger was a jump shot with 35 seconds left for UTSA to lead by five again. The Roadrunners hit their final four free throws as well to seal it.
Turning Point
The key 8-0 run in the third quarter stretched the lead for UTSA, while the 7-0 run in the fourth quarter took four minutes. Those two stretches helped put the home team over the top.
Stat Pack
- ACU shot 46% from the floor, but struggled again from the three-point line. The 'Cats hit just six of their 23 attempts from distance. UTSA didn't shoot better, going 5-21 from deep.
- Individually, the 23 points for Langstaff was her best in a Wildcat uniform, and she added eight rebounds to her day as well. Langstaff went 9-15 from the floor and 4-5 at the foul line.
- Miller's 13 points were the most in a game this season for the fifth-year guard, and she added five boards and two helpers. She went 6-8 at the free throw line.
- Earle scored 10 and added to her team-leading rebounding effort for the season with six more. She also led ACU with four assists.
- Martin scored eight inside, while Thornton added eight points herself.
- Jackson added seven off the bench, and handed out three assists.
Up Next
The Wildcats will hit the road for the holidays at the UNT Thanksgiving Tournament in Denton hosted by the University of North Texas. ACU will play Montana State on Friday, Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. before closing the weekend against Louisiana on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 12 p.m.
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