ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Abilene Christian Wildcats extended their winning streak to 8 games with an impressive 77-69 victory over the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday afternoon at The Pit. This win pushes the Wildcats over the double-digit threshold with their record now being 10-4.
The Wildcats were led by Payton Hull's stellar offensive performance, as she poured in a game-high 29 points, including five three-pointers. Hull was supported by dynamic contributions from Bella Earle and Emma Troxell, who each tallied 15 points. Earle added eight rebounds to her stat line, while Troxell chipped in with six boards and steady defense.
After a tightly contested first half, which ended in a 34-34 tie, the Wildcats broke the game open with a dominant third quarter. ACU outscored the Lobos 30-20 during the period, using a combination of hot shooting and disruptive defense to build an 11-point lead midway through the frame. The Wildcats capitalized on New Mexico turnovers, converting them into easy points.
ACU's defensive determination proved to be a decisive factor. ACU forced 19 turnovers and held New Mexico to 34.6% shooting from three-point range. Their defensive pressure fueled a 15-7 advantage in fast-break points, and the Wildcats scored 30 points off turnovers.
After the Christmas break, The Wildcats are back in Moody Coliseum for their final non-conference game against Nelson University. Tip-off is on December 30 at 1:00 p.m. (CT)
