ABILENE — Redshirt freshman
Addison Martin was unstoppable, ACU trimmed a 24-point deficit all the way down to one, but the Wildcat women's basketball team fell just short against long-time rival Sam Houston on Thursday night at Moody Coliseum. The Wildcats trailed by 24 at the beginning of the third quarter, but nearly brought it all the way back, outscoring the Bearkats 46-27 in the second half. However, a late three from
Zoe Jackson rimmed out, and Sam Houston walked away from Abilene with a 69-66 victory. ACU moves to 7-7 on the year and 1-2 in WAC play, and has fallen just short on the last possession in back-to-back games. It's a quick turnaround as UT Arlington comes to town on Saturday afternoon.
Key Plays
- ACU got down big early in the first quarter; Sam Houston made nine of its 12 shots from the field and led 24-6 through the game's first 10 minutes. Martin was the highlight, scoring all six in the period in the paint for the 'Cats.
- Sam Houston went on a 14-0 run to close the first quarter, and scored the first two of the second to take a big lead. Aspen Thornton put a stop to the bleeding with a pull-up jumper in the paint to score the first points of the second quarter for ACU.
- The Bearkats outscored the Wildcats 18-14 in the second period, and Martin continued to be the bright spot with seven more points, giving her 13 at the break. Martin and Thornton combined for 18 of the 20 first-half points. ACU trailed 42-20 at the break.
- ACU could not get start the comeback without the play of its defense. The Wildcats got the deficit down to 18, but it took half the period. The 'Cats trailed 49-31 with 4:43 to play, and that's when the comeback began. Bella Earle got behind the defense in transition and put in a layup.
- After four consecutive made free throws, freshman Claire Graham provided a spark with a key putback off a miss and ACU trailed by 10 for the first time since the first quarter, 49-39.
- Maleeah Langstaff hit her first three of the game on the next possession, and all of a sudden it was an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 49-42.
- Sam Houston scored 10 points in the final 101 seconds, went on a 10-5 run, and closed the quarter with a made basket at the buzzer from Sydnee Kemp (who finished with a career-high 21 points) to lead 59-47 heading to the fourth.
- ACU opened the fourth with a 6-0 run on layups from Jackson, Langstaff, and Raychael Harjo, and it was officially game on at 59-53.
- Down eight, 64-56, with 4:26 to go, Madi Miller made her prescence felt with a three-point play inside, and it was a five-point deficit.
- ACU was down eight one more time with 3:19 to go, but the 'Cats made their final run. Thornton converted an and-one to get within five, then Martin converted inside to get within three, 67-64, with 2:14 to play.
- After a rebound with under a minute to play, Martin scored her 29th point of the night on a putback after a missed three-pointer from Thornton. It was a one-point game, 67-66, with 48 seconds left.
- After a missed shot by Sam Houston with 13 seconds left, the ball went out of bounds off Thornton and the possession stayed with Sam Houston. ACU had only fouled three times in the quarter at that point, so with the shot clock turned off, it needed to foul twice to put the Bearkats at the free throw line. They did so with back-to-back fouls by Langstaff on inbound plays, and after all that, Sam Houston made one of two free throws and led 68-66 with 11 seconds. ACU called timeout to inbound in the front court.
- The inbound was stolen by Sam Houston, and Thornton committed the immediate foul to put the visitors at the line. They made one of two, and ACU had one last chance down three with eight seconds left.
- Jackson took a step-back three-pointer at the buzzer that just rimmed off, and the game was over. Sam Houston held on, 69-66.
Turning Point
The 16-0 run to close the first quarter and open the second for Sam Houston was a big part of this game. The lead was 18 early in the period, and would get pushed to 22 at halftime. ACU made a run at it in the second half, but it was a big deficit to overcome.
Stat Pack
- After scoring just 20 points in the first half, ACU erupted for 27 in the third quarter alone. The 'Cats shot 77% in the quarter and made their only two three-pointers.
- ACU shot 51% from the floor for the game, improving from 28% in the first half of the game. ACU made 18 of its 24 shots in the second half, and went 8 of 10 at the foul line.
- Martin finished with a career-best 29 points, besting her 18 points from last week at Tarleton. She made 12 of her 14 shots and went 5-7 at the foul line to go with five rebounds.
- Thornton scored 11 points with four assists and two steals, but did foul out of the game on the second-to-last possession.
- Langstaff finished with 10 points and a team-best seven rebounds Thursday night.
- ACU finished 12-19 at the foul line, while Sam Houston went 16-19 at the stripe.
- ACU forced 19 turnovers and scored 20 points off turnovers in the game. Sam Houston turned ACU over 15 times, but just six times in the second half.
Up Next
The Wildcats will host WAC newcomer UT Arlington,
Julie Goodenough's alma mater, on Saturday, Jan,. 7 to close out the home weekend. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+ and the ACU Sports Network.
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