PHOENIX — Aspen Thornton returned from injury to lead the way with 14 points, four total players scored in double figures, but the ACU women's basketball team struggled to hold a halftime lead against Grand Canyon on the road Saturday, ultimately falling in the end, 68-59. The Wildcats (10-10, 4-5 WAC) led by two, 36-34, at halftime, but were outscored 34-23 in the second half in the defeat. ACU was outscored 46-26 in points in the paint and was forced into 18 turnovers in defeat. ACU has dropped its second game in a row in WAC play for the first time all season as it returns home next week for three straight at Moody Coliseum.
Key Plays
- Maleeah Langstaff buried a three for ACU's first points of the game, and the 'Cats led 3-2 with 9:02 to go in the first quarter.
- Langstaff's three sparked an 8-0 run that included a three from Mal and a three from Bella Earle.
- ACU led by as many as seven in the opening quarter (11-4), and after a Claire Graham triple near the end of the quarter, the visitors led 22-17 heading to the second.
- Grand Canyon scored the first five of the second period until Madi Miller buried a three to go back in front.
- After trailing for the first time in the quarter, 27-25, Langstaff responded on the next possession with a triple.
- Earle buried another three to push a one-point lead to four, 33-29, then hit another one two possessions later, and the lead was 36-34 heading to the locker room.
- Grand Canyon outscored ACU 13-2 to open the third quarter, and the Lopes built a 47-38 lead with 3:47 to play in the period.
- GCU led by 12, 55-43, with 20 seconds left in the third, until Thornton hit a jumper to get ACU within 10 going to the fourth.
- Addison Martin got a three-point play the hard way for the first points of the fourth, and the deficit was seven, 55-48.
- Raychael Harjo hit a shot to get within five, 59-54, with 6:09 to play. ACU only scored five more points the rest of the day.
Turning Point
The third quarter stretch when Grand Canyon scored 13 of the first 15 points in nearly seven minutes was big. And the fourth quarter's final six minutes were tough with ACU scoring just five points. Those two stretches were the difference Saturday.
Stat Pack
- Thornton led the way with 14 points in 37 minutes on 7-14 shooting. The point guard added three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
- Langstaff scored 11 on a pair of three-pointers to go with five rebounds.
- Martin tallied a double-double for the first time in her career with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
- Miller tallied 10 points, while Earle scored nine in 29 minutes.
- ACU made eight three-pointers, all in the first half of the game, and finished 8-21. The 'Cats shot 45% from the floor.
- ACU scored just nine points in the third quarter, and just 23 in the second half.
Up Next
The Wildcats will return home for the first of three straight games in Moody. ACU hosts Utah Valley next Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. before taking on SFA on Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. The home stand ends with California Baptist on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. All three games will air on ESPN+.
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