EDINBURG, Texas — Redshirt freshman
Addison Martin led the way with 25 points,
Maleeah Langstaff and
Aspen Thornton each scored 15, but the ACU women's basketball team came up short on the road at UTRGV on Saturday, 75-71. The Wildcats (11-13, 5-8 WAC) led by as many as nine in the second quarter, trailed by as many as 13 in the third quarter, and came up shy in their final run at it in the fourth in the roller-coaster game. Both teams shot 45% from the field with eight three-pointers, but UTRGV out-rebounded ACU, 35-28, and held a 45-6 edge in bench points. The Wildcats cap the busy stretch of four games in eight days with a 1-3 record and will return to Moody Coliseum for a date with Tarleton next Thursday night.
Key Plays
- Thornton started the game off a bang, burying a three-pointer 29 seconds in to go up 3-0. Langstaff would add one to it as well to go up 6-2 early.
- ACU hit five of its eight three-pointers in the first quarter. Madi Miller knocked one home and Zoe Jackson followed with one as well to build a 19-11 advantage with 1:26 to go in the first. ACU led 19-15 after one.
- The second quarter was all Vaqueros. The home team outscored the 'Cats 21-10 in the period; ACU went just 3-10, with two of those being three-pointers (Miller and Thornton), but it was not enough. UTRGV took a 36-29 lead into the locker room.
- ACU scored the first five of the third quarter to get back within two, 36-34, including a Thornton three-point play.
- Bella Earle converted a layup to get within one, 39-38, with 7:31 to go in the third, but UTRGV took over the next four minutes, going on a 16-4 run to push its lead to 55-42.
- Martin scored seven-straight points for ACU, with five of those coming on free throws, and got it back to four, 55-51, but the 'Cats would trail 58-51 going to the fourth with a three-pointer at the buzzer.
- The teams traded points and it was a nine-point deficit to under six minutes to play in the game. Langstaff would make three-consecutive free throws to cut it to six, 64-58, and then freshman Claire Graham buried a three to make it a three-point game, 64-61, with 2:02 left.
- UTRGV answered perfectly. They responded with a three of their own, and then after a bucket inside by Martin, they answered with a jumper fo their own to go right back up six with 38 seconds left.
Turning Point
The 16-4 run in the third quarter was big for UTRGV, and the three-pointer at the buzzer for the Vaqueros going into the fourth quarter was a momentum shifter as well. Instead of a five-point game going to the last 10 minutes, it was a three-possession difference and UTRGV scored to start the fourth as well. It was a big uphill battle from that point forward.
Stat Pack
- Martin's 25 points give her the fourth 20-point game of her season. The redshirt freshman shot 50% (9-18) from the floor and went 7-8 at the foul line with five rebounds and a pair of blocks.
- Langstaff scored 15 with three boards and shot 5-13 from the field, while Thornton's 15 came with five assists and 4-8 shooting with a pair of three-pointers.
- Miller scored eight points and ended up fouling out of the game.
- ACU is now 1-9 this season when it gets out-rebounded (35-28 UTRGV).
- ACU finished 15-17 at the charity stripe Saturday and assisted on 18 of its 24 made field goals.
Up Next
The Wildcats will get some much-needed rest in the beginning of the week and will not see the floor until next Thursday, Feb. 16 against Tarleton. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in Moody Coliseum, and the game will air on ESPN+.
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