LAS VEGAS – The ACU women's basketball team was led by its veteran leaders Wednesday afternoon in the second round of the Hercules Tires WAC Tournament.
Jamie Bonnarens led the way with 19 points,
Madi Miller scored 14, and
Tatum Barber added 13 as the Wildcats fell to UTRGV, 73-70. ACU, who trailed the majority of the game, had the ball down three with 10 seconds left.
Kamryn Mraz's three-pointer was just off at the gun, as UTRGV advanced to the quarterfinal round. ACU's season wraps up at 17-13 overall, and the team finished 9-9 in WAC play and the No. 5 seed in the league.
Turning Point: The final stretch of the third quarter, and the early stretch of the fourth.
After trailing by 16 points in the second quarter, 37-21, with 6:21 to go until halftime, ACU turned it on. The Wildcats got within three points, 51-48, with 4:12 to play in the third quarter. However, UTRGV scored six consecutive points after that to go back up nine, 57-48.
Sarah Griswold hit a jumper on the baseline to end the period, putting ACU down seven, 57-50, but the Wildcats had to play catch up again in the fourth. Despite UTRGV only scoring 29 points in the second half, ACU could not get the game tied or get back in front during that stretch. ACU got it to four early in the fourth quarter, but a 6-0 run for UTRGV pushed their lead back to 10.
Key Plays
- Prior to 1Q | The game got off to a weird start. UTRGV did not turn in its starting lineup in time prior to the game, so Bonnarens was at the free throw line shooting technical foul shots prior to tip. ACU led 2-0 and then the game jumped at center court.
- 1Q | Miller hit ACU's first three of the game, putting the 'Cats in front, 5-3.
- 1Q | Freshman
Nykale Cramer stepped in and buried a three-pointer to put the 'Cats down 18-16, and Bonnarens backed it up with a three on the next trip to put ACU in front again, 19-18.
- 3Q | Griswold and Barber each made free throws early on in the period, and ACU trailed by six, 47-41.
- 3Q | Miller did some work in transition, laying one in to get it to three, 49-46. Miller then hit two free throws later to get it to 51-48.
- 4Q | Barber buried a triple to open the fourth quarter, and the 'Cats were back in it again, down 57-53.
- 4Q | ACU trimmed it again late.
Emma Middleton hit two big free throws, and Miller again attacked the rim to put ACU down 71-68.
- 4Q | UTRGV hit two free throws with 58 seconds left, and led 73-68. Miller then scored with 38 seconds left, and then ACU needed a stop. After a foul with 12 seconds left, the Vaqueros missed both free throws, and ACU had a chance to tie it. Mraz's three was just off line, and UTRGV held on, 73-70.
Stat Pack
- Bonnarens tallied 19 points, giving her 23 double-digit scoring games for the season. The grad transfer played 34 minutes, hit 7-of-17 from the floor, and hit three from distance. She also nabbed six rebounds to lead ACU.
- Miller dropped in 14 points off the bench, including a pair of three-pointers, and grabbed five boards.
- Barber added 13 points, and hit 7-of-8 at the foul line. She swiped three steals as well.
- Middletonscored six points including going 4-of-4 at the line.
- ACU went 18-of-20 at the foul line, and only had 10 turnovers for the game.
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