ANNAPOLIS, Md. –
Aspen Thornton and
Addison Martin combined for 30 points but Abilene Christian dropped a 63-56 decision to Towson to open the Navy Classic on Saturday.
A pair of second-half scoring droughts proved to be ACU's undoing. A game that saw eight lead changes and seven ties through 26 minutes slowed to a crawl as the Wildcats went the final 3:52 of the third quarter without scoring and added another 3:37 drought in the fourth.
Thornton hit a three-pointer to put the Cats up 41-37 with 5:58 left in the third quarter and
Payton Hull scored another three-pointer with 3:52 remaining in the quarter for a 44-41 lead. Towson ended that period on a 5-0 run to take a 46-44 lead into the final frame.
Towson held on to the lead for the length of the fourth quarter. The Tigers finished with a 40-31 rebounding edge and scored 17 points off of 13 offensive rebounds.
Thornton went 4 of 5 from three-point range for 16 points and Martin went for 14 points and six rebounds.
Bella Earle had eight points and a team-best seven rebounds.
The Wildcats play host Navy at noon (Central) on Sunday.
