ABILENE — Aspen Thornton led the way with 19 points, four players finished in double figures, and the ACU women's basketball team got a huge road win Tuesday night at Sam Houston, 74-68, to open the final week of the regular season. The Wildcats (14-14, 8-9 WAC) are on their first winning streak in the month of February, and will look to open March by extending it to three games on Thursday at home. ACU led for 34 of the 40 minutes and closed the game out strong with eight free throws in the fourth quarter. The game was tied 64-64, but the 'Cats outscored the 'Kats 10-4 in the final three minutes of the game to leave Huntsville victorious.
Key Plays
- Madi Miller hit a three-pointer 29 seconds into the game to get the scoring started. After the game was tied 5-5, Thornton got her night started with her only three of the night.
- Thornton made a couple free throws to go up five and then knifed through the defense on a coast-to-coast to go up seven, 14-7. The interior game for Thornton was the key to the night.
- ACU built up as much as a nine-point lead in the first quarter and ultimately led by five, 20-15, after 10 minutes.
- Sam Houston got within two, 23-21, at the 7:12 mark of the second, but Maleeah Langstaff responded immediately with a key offensive rebound and putback.
- Bella Earle and Zoe Jackson combined for a quick 5-0 run to go up eight, 30-22, with 4:48 to go in the half.
- The Bearkats got it back down to one and ultimately took the lead, 37-36, with a 14-7 run in the final four minutes. ACU would take the lead into the locker room, however, with a pair of Thornton free throws with eight seconds to go. The 'Cats led 38-37 going to the locker room.
- The teams went back and forth in the third period, with neither time building a lead larger than three until the end. The Wildcats broke a 50-50 tie with a Miller layup, then the fifth-year senior hit a big-time three for the lead, 55-53, with 1:43 left in the quarter. ACU took a 57-53 lead to the fourth.
- Langstaff scored the first four of the fourth to build a six-point lead, but Sam Houston cut it to two, 61-59, with 7:02 left. Both teams then went scoreless for a minute-and-a-half.
- Earle then hit a three to go up five, but Sam Houston would eventually get it all tied up, 64-64, with 3:12 to play.
- Langstaff broke tie on the next possession to go up two, and then Thornton got a steal on the next possession. Langstaff would convert another layup the next trip down, and ACU led 68-64 with 2:16 left.
- Sam Houston turned it over yet again on the next possession, and you could sense the 'Cats would win it. Miller was fouled and hit one-of-two at the stripe, and the lead was five, 69-64. After the Bearkats scored inside, ACU would hit three-straight free throws to go back up six, 72-66. ACU hit eight foul shots in the fourth, including the final two from Langstaff with four seconds left, to walk away with a win.
Turning Point
The end of the game. ACU entered Tuesday night with a 2-14 record when tied or trailing in the final two minutes of the game. In a late-game situation for the second-straight game, the 'Cats pulled away and finished again.
Stat Pack
- Thornton scored 19 points on 6-10 from the field, and did so with just one three-point attempt. Thornton also went 6-8 at the foul line, grabbed five rebounds, and added two assists.
- Langstaff backed up her 34-point night last Thursday with a 16-point effort Tuesday. The veteran shot 5-10 and also went 6-8 at the stripe to go with five boards.
- Miller dropped 13 while Martin added 10. Earle pulled in double-digit rebounds for the second-straight game (10).
- ACU scored 40 points in the paint and scored 22 points on 20 Sam Houston turnovers. The 'Cats shot 47% from the field and only needed five three's to win the game.
- There were eight ties and seven lead changes Tuesday night.
- ACU finishes the rivalry with Sam Houston (the Bearkats are moving to Conference USA next season) with an 8-1 record in Huntsville.
Up Next
The Wildcats close the regular season with their final game in Moody Coliseum on Thursday, March 2 against Seattle U. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m., and the game will air on both ESPN+ and on the radio on the ACU Sports Network.
Follow ACU Women's Basketball on Social Media
Twitter: @ACUWBB | @ACUsports
Instagram: @acuwbb | @acusports
Facebook: /ACUWomensBasketball | /ACUSports
#GoWildcats
