NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Aspen Thornton dominated with 20 points,
Madi Miller and
Addison Martin each scored 18, but the ACU women's basketball team dropped a close 83-78 ballgame to Stephen F. Austin on Saturday to close out the opening weekend of the WAC schedule. The Wildcats (7-6, 1-1 WAC) had the ball down three points with 11 seconds left, but a three-pointer came up short and SFA (11-2, 1-0 WAC) hit a pair of free throws to ice it with a few seconds to play. There were 19 lead changes and seven ties in the game, and ACU nearly pulled it off in the end, but will wrap up the opening weekend 1-1 in league play before turning the page to 2023.
Key Plays
- Thornton hit a couple of free throws to take a 6-3 lead in the first quarter, and it was clear the Wildcats were here to stay. The lead grew to 9-5 on a Thornton three-pointer.
- SFA took a 10-9 lead, but Maleeah Langstaff scored inside immediately and Miller drained a three-pointer to go right back up 14-10.
- Miller and Martin combined for five points to open the second quarter to take a 21-19 lead. Every time SFA made a run, ACU responded.
- Bella Earle and Miller teamed up for back-to-back triples, and the lead was 27-22 with 7:38 to play until halftime.
- SFA tied the game at 32 with 2:40 to go in the half, but the 'Cats closed the period on a 9-5 run to lead 41-37 at the break. Langstaff hit a layup with 12 seconds left in the quarter to go up four.
- Trailing 48-46 in the third, Thornton made a free throw and then scored in the paint on the following trip down the floor to take the lead, 49-48, at the 4:59 mark.
- The game was tied at 49, then SFA made its key run. The Ladyjacks went on a 15-5 run to lead 64-54 with 20 seconds left in the third. ACU salvaged a pair of free throws from Martin to get within eight going to the fourth quarter.
- Miller hit a three-pointer to cut it to four with 7:45 to go in the game, but the Ladyjacks pushed it back out to 11 with a 9-2 run. SFA led 77-66 with 5:51 to play in the game. Then the next comeback started.
- Martin converted a layup inside, then Thornton got a steal and a jumper in transition. Miller swiped the ball away from SFA on the next possession and then hit a three-pointer, and all of a sudden the 'Cats trailed 77-73. That happened in less than 90 seconds, and it was a great finish down the stretch.
- Miller hit a three with 2:08 to go, it was a one-point game, 77-76. It finished off a 10-0 run in 3:30.
- SFA hit a pair of free throws with 1:31 left to go back up three, but Martin responded with a key score inside with 38 seconds left. ACU trailed by one and needed one more stop.
- Thornton got the steal with 26 seconds to go, and down one, the 'Cats had the chance to take the lead. Mal Langstaff could not convert inside, and SFA cleared with a rebound. The Ladyjacks then would hit two free throws with 10 seconds left, and they led by three. The final possession featured a missed three-pointer from Thornton, and SFA walked away with two more free throws and a five-point win.
Turning Point
The final two possessions of the game were the difference. ACU had the ball down one, but missed inside. Then down three points, the ball rimmed out from Thornton, and the Ladyjacks held on.
Stat Pack
- ACU shot 43% from the floor, including 11 made three-pointers. The Wildcats also went 15-23 at the free throw line.
- Rebounding, a strength of the Wildcats all season, was not their strength Saturday. The Ladyjacks held a 42-22 edge on the boards, and got 13 offensive rebounds to ACU's 13 defensive rebounds. SFA scored 15 second-chance points.
- ACU forced 23 SFA turnovers, and scored 28 points off turnovers in the game.
- Thornton dropped 20 points on 5-11 shooting including a pair of three-pointers, and went 8-10 at the foul line as well. She also dished out five assists and took the ball away six times, both ACU highs for the sophomore transfer.
- Miller scored 18 points, all on three-pointers. The six triples is a career-high for the fifth-year senior, and she added four assists and three steals.
- Martin scored a career-high 18 points on 6-9 from the floor, and hit 6-10 shots at the foul line as well. Martin tallied five rebounds, matching Thornton for a team-best.
- Langstaff and Claire Graham each contributed with six points, while Earle and Zoe Jackson each tallied five.
Up Next
The Wildcats will open 2023 with a pair of home games next week. ACU welcomes in Sam Houston on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. before hosting UT Arlington on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. Both games will air on ESPN+.
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