ABILENE – Abilene Christian opens its women's basketball season at home on Monday, hosting Southwestern Assemblies of God University at 6 p.m.
The Wildcats are coming off of a 15-15 season in 2022-23, including a 9-9 mark in the Western Athletic Conference.
SAGU, a member of the NAIA's Sooner Athletic Conference, was 8-20 last season and 5-17 in the SAC.
ACU Storylines
HOME FIRE: Home is where the blowouts happen for ACU. The Cats have won every home opener since 2012 and by wide margins. ACU has won those last 11 home openers by an average of more than 42 points (96.1-53.4).
LAST START: Zoe Jackson had 22 points and
Bella Earle went for a dozen points and a dozen rebounds in last year's season opener, an 89-37 win over Howard Payne.
Addison Martin chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds.
HOWDY: This will be the first meeting between SAGU and ACU. The Lions visit from Waxahachie.
WELCOME BACK:
Aspen Thornton is back after averaging 12.1 points and totaling 70 assists and 40 steals a year ago. The team also returns starters
Bella Earle (6.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and
Addison Martin (12.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg).
Zoe Jackson and
Claire Graham played every game last season and
Tristin Keller and
Brooke Jessen also return after playing in half of last season's games.
NEW HOME: Transfers
Kenadi Rising (5-11, G/F),
Yle Exposito Perez (5-7, G) and
Clare Traeger (5-10, F) bring experience to the team. Traeger started 29 games last season at Binghamton, averaging 8.8 points and eight rebounds per game. Exposito was an All-Conference guard at Trinidad State, averaging 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals. Rising averaged 13.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals at Highland Community College.
FROSH FACES: Former Bixby High School (Okla.) teammates
Meredith Mayes (6-2, C) and
Gracy Wernli (5-9, G) join the team along with
Payton Hull, a 5-10 guard from Peaster High School, and
Emma Troxell, a 5-11 forward from Bushland High School.
Scouting SAGU
- Southwestern Assemblies of God had an 8-20 record and went 5-17 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
- Leading scorer Rylee Lavender returns after scoring 12 points per game and earning honorable mention All-Conference accolades last season.
- Cailyn Tuicker is back after making the SAC All-Freshman team a year ago.
- SAGU is picked to finish 10th in the SAC this season.
