ABILENE — Fifth-year senior
Madi Miller led the way with an 18-point night,
Addison Martin added 12 points and nine rebounds, and the ACU women's basketball team won a low-scoring, defensive slugfest against Seattle U to close the regular season Thursday night. The Wildcats (15-14, 9-9 WAC) only shot 28% from the floor including 22% from three-point range, but the defense forced 21 Redhawk (5-23, 5-13 WAC) turnovers and held on for a 49-43 victory. Miller led the 'Cats with a big three-pointer in the fourth quarter to pull away, and left it all on the floor in her 43rd and final game at Moody Coliseum. ACU will now take its first three-game winning streak of conference play into the WAC Tournament next week in Las Vegas.
"It wasn't anything we did. We got open looks, we just had to make them," said head coach
Julie Goodenough. "We talked about it at halftime. Get the ball into the paint, and be shot-ready. We played well defensively, we just needed to get some shots to fall. We did that a little better in the second half."
"I was pleased with how we played on defense," said Miller. "We gave up just 22 points in the first half, but we looked up and we were still down at halftime. We just needed a few shots to fall. When Bella [Earle] and I hit a couple early, I knew it would be a much better second half."
Key Plays
- The game began with a jump ball that ended up going out of bounds on the baseline. It was a unique start to what would be a unique night. Neither team could get anything to fall, and there was virtually no rhythm to the basketball game.
- Martin hit a couple of free throws 45 seconds in, but there would not be points again until the 6:37 mark of the first quarter.
- Seattle U eventually a 6-0 run in a span of three minutes, and led 8-6 with 2:39 to go in the quarter. ACU led 10-8 after one.
- Miller opened the second stanza with the first of her four three-pointers, and pushed the lead to five. ACU, however, would go on to only score seven points in the second quarter. The 'Cats trailed 22-17 at the break, shooting just 5-32 from the floor including 1-17 from distance.
- ACU changed the tune in the third quarter, scoring the first eight. Bella Earle buried one from the outside, and Miller capped the run with a triple. ACU led 25-22 at that point.
- After tying it up at 27, Miller hit another triple to go in front by three. ACU would cap the half with another Earle trifecta, and it was a six-point, 33-27, lead heading to the fourth.
- Maleeah Langstaff and Maritn combined for the first six points of the fourth, and the 'Cats looked like they would run away to go up 12, 39-27. ACU ended the third by holding Seattle U scoreless in the final 5:45, and opened the fourth by holding the Redhawks scoreless for the first 3:04.
- Seattle then would go on a run to cut it to three, 43-40, with 1:47 to go. ACU had to close it out, and they did.
- Miller's play of the night was a step-back three on the next possession to immediately go back up six, 46-40, with 1:29 to go. Seattle would hit a three to cut it back to 46-43, but not until there were 45 seconds left.
- Miller hit a couple free throws to go up five, and then Aspen Thornton made her biggest play by stealing the ball at the other end to seal the win.
Turning Point
The eight-minute stretch to end the third and open the fourth. ACU and Seattle U were tied at 27, but the Redhawks went the final 5:45 to close the third wthout points, and opened the fourth with a three-minute stretch without points. ACU scored 14 points in a row, and led by 12 in the fourth. The 'Cats would close it out late by holding on, but that key stretch was the difference.
Stat Pack
- Miller played her 43rd and final game at Moody Coliseum on Thursday night. The vet closed it out with an 18-point night on four three-pointers and a 6-6 night at the foul line. The Wylie, Texas native added six boards and a pair of assists.
- Martin neared a double-double with 12 points and nine boards and added a block and a steal in 34 minutes.
- Langstaff scored eight to go with three rebounds, and Earle hit a pair of three's and grabbed eight boards. Earle is up to 31 rebounds in her last three games.
- ACU's 28.6% shooting from the field is the second-lowest output of the season, and the 22% is the fifth-worst percentage of the season, and ACU still won the game. The defense allowed 32% from the floor, the sixth-lowest total, and Seattle U hit just 22% of its three's, the eight-best out of the season.
- ACU scored 16 points off 21 Seattle U turnovers and scored 18 points in the paint as well.
- ACU's three-game winning streak in WAC play is the first such streak for the program since the first three games played in the new conference. ACU opened the 2021-22 WAC slate with wins over Utah Valley, Dixie State (now Utah Tech), and Sam Houston. The 'Cats have topped Southern Utah, Sam Houston, and Seattle U heading into the postseason.
Up Next
The Wildcats will await their fate for the 2023 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament. The bracket will be announced on Friday, March 3. The 'Cats will then head to Las Vegas for the first round of the tournament on Monday, March 6. The time and opponent are to be determined.
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