OREM, Utah — Fifth-year senior
Madi Miller crossed the 1,000-point threshold after a 20-point day, sophomore
Aspen Thornton scored 18 points, and the ACU women's basketball team rolled over Utah Valley on Saturday afternoon at the UCCU Center, 71-50. It was a dominating effort from the get-go. After trailing 10-5, the Wildcats (9-8, 3-3 WAC) went on an 18-2 run to end the first quarter, and it was off and running against the Wolverines (4-13, 1-5 WAC). ACU gets a much-needed win to cap the week-long Utah road trip, and moves to 2-0 all-time against UVU. The 'Cats shot 44% from the floor and held Utah Valley to just 38% offensively with 18 turnovers.
Key Plays
- After Utah Valley scored the first four points of the game, Thornton hit a triple to get ACU on the board. It was the first of 11 three-pointers for the Wildcats Saturday.
- Trailing 10-5, the biggest early shot might have come from veteran Maleeah Langstaff. The fifth-year buried a three to get it to 10-8, and it sprang the 18-2 run.
- After Langstaff's basket at the 6:34 mark of the first period, freshman Claire Graham tied it up at 10-10 on the next possession, and the run was on. Thornton scored on back-to-back steals and it forced Utah Valley to call a timeout.
- Miller hit the first of her five three-pointers out of the timeout, and later in the quarter it was Raychael Harjo who hit one from midrange to give ACU a 23-12 lead through the game's first 10 minutes. It was never a game after that.
- The defense was remarkable in the second quarter, holding Utah Valley to just seven points on 3-13 shooting, including 0-3 from distance. ACU rebounded well and gave up virtually no second-chance opportunities in the frame. Harjo opened the period with a three-pointer and Graham connected on a smooth jumper late in the shot clock, and the Wildcats were pulling away, leading 31-14.
- Addison Martin started to assert herself in the paint, scoring on back-to-back buckets late in the frame. Then Miller hit another three to give her 11 points at the break. ACU took a remarkable 44-19 lead into the locker room.
- Miller scored the first six points of the third for ACU, and on the second three-pointer in that group, eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career. It was a corner three, the 166th triple of her career, and her fourth of the game. The 'Cats led 50-27 at that point.
- Miller's fifth three of the game pushed the lead to 55-29, and ACU led 56-32 at the end of the third.
- ACU was outscored 18-15 in the fourth, but still held a very comfortable lead throughout and won 71-50.
Turning Point
ACU's 21-2 run to close the first period and open the second, spanning 6:56 of game time, pushed the lead to 26-12. The game was never closer than that. ACU held at least a double-digit lead the rest of the game and built up as much as a 27-point lead.
Stat Pack
- Miller's 20 points pushed her to 1,003 points for her career. Saturday was the third 20-point effort of the season and the fifth of her career. Miller made five three-pointers and grabbed five rebounds to go with four assists.
- Thornton tallied 18 on 5-13 from the field with a pair of three-pointers; the sophomore went 6-6 at the free throw line, pulled down five rebounds, and added two assists. The five assists matches a season-high.
- Martin scored nine inside to go with seven rebounds, a team-high. Martin also drew the defenders inside multiple times and kicked out for a new career-high four assists.
- Graham and Harjo each contributed with seven points, while Langstaff and Brooke Jessen each dropped in five points.
- ACU out-rebounded UVU 37-30 including 12 offensive rebounds. ACU forced 18 turnovers and scored 20 points off turnovers as well.
- ACU shot 43% from the floor and hit 11 three-pointers, marking the ninth game this season with 10 or more makes and the third such game in a row.
Up Next
The Wildcats will have the Thursday bye coming up this week before hosting UTRGV next Saturday, Jan. 21. Tip-off in Moody Coliseum is at 1 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+.
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