ST. GEORGE, Utah — Fifth-year transfer
Maleeah Langstaff led the way with an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double, four players finished with 10 or more points, but the ACU women's basketball fell to Utah Tech on the road Wednesday night in a high-scoring affair, 85-74. The Wildcats (8-8, 2-3 WAC) led 4-3 in the first quarter early, but the Trailblazers (11-5, 3-2 WAC) took the lead and never looked back on their way to an 11-point victory. Both teams hit 11 three-pointers, but Utah Tech shot over 50% from the floor and kept the lead around double digits the entire night. The road trip continues in Utah on Saturday for ACU as it will look to bounce back with a victory at Utah Valley.
Key Plays
- After both teams exchanged two free throws to open the night, Miller converted on a back-door cut inside to grab the lead, 4-2.
- Miller then tied the game at seven with a three-pointer at the 6:14 mark of the first, but that would be the final tie of the game.
- Trailing 18-11 in the first, Aspen Thornton hit a three-pointer to cut it back to four, but Utah Tech responded seconds later with a three of its own.
- Langstaff buried a three at the buzzer of the first quarter to cut the deficit to 25-19. ACU kept hanging around.
- Freshman Claire Graham, making her second start of the season (and her career), hit a three that bounced around and dropped home to make it 27-24, and ACU continued to get within one possession.
- The Wildcats used the foul line in the back half of the quarter, and Langstaff then got a running layup to fall to make it a five-point game at halftime, 43-38.
- The third quarter never got closer than six points, but never got further away than 11 points. Addison Martin got going inside with back-to-back buckets in the middle of the quarter, both times getting it back to nine-point deficits.
- Utah Tech pulled away a bit in the fourth, leading by as many 16, and each time answering the call with three pointers to put the game away.
Turning Point
The big difference was not being able to turn a five-point deficit at halftime into anything in the third quarter. The deficit actually moved up to nine heading to the fourth. The game was never out of reach, but not being able to get it closer going to the fourth was a big difference. Utah Tech then made a run to stretch it to as much as 16 in the final quarter, and that was all she wrote.
Stat Pack
- Mal Langstaff had her fourth double-double of the season and the 15th of her career Wednesday night. Langstaff finished with a team-high 18 points on 8-16 shooting in 35 minutes to go with 10 rebounds. She added a pair of assists and a block to her night as well. It is the 11th double-digit point game this season for the veteran.
- Miller tallied her 10th double-digit scoring effor of the season with a 15-point night, and hit five of her six shots at the foul line. Miller grabbed four boards and dished out a team-best five assists.
- Thornton finished with 13 points witih four assists and two rebounds.
- Graham tallied 10 points in a starting role, playing 32 minutes and grabbing three boards.
- Martin scored eight and grabbed two rebounds while finishing with four fouls.
- Raychael Harjo tallied seven off the bench with a three-pointer and grabbed five boards as well.
- ACU tallied its ninth game of the season and the third in a row with 10 or more three-pointers made. The 'Cats hit 11 from the outside in 34 attempts.
- ACU was outscored 42-28 in points in the paint.
Up Next
The Wildcats wrap up the Utah trip with a visit to Orem for the first time ever. ACU battles Utah Valley on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. CT to finish the weekend. The game will air on ESPN+.
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