FORT MYERS, Fla. - Abilene Christian women's basketball dropped an 80-74 decision to Bradley to close out the Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Following the conclusion of their four-game road trip, the Wildcats return to Moody Coliseum at 11 a.m. Tuesday to play McMurry on Field Trip Day, presented by Domino's Pizza.
ACU recorded its second game of the season shooting over .500, knocking down 28 of 52 shots at a .538 clip. It was the Wildcats' best performance from three-point range this year, hitting seven of 19 attempts at a .368 mark. They forced 16 Brave turnovers.
Payton Hull powered ACU with 23 points on a 4-of-8 showing from beyond the arc while registering a team-high three steals.
Meredith Mayes complemented her with 22 points, sinking 10 of 12 field goal attempts. It's the fourth time in her career she's made double digit field goals. Mayes added nine rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.
Erin Woodson and
Natalia Chavez scored 13 and 10 points, respectively. Woodson brought down six rebounds, while
Emma Troxell and
Breanna Davis each earned a pair of steals.
The Wildcats' most productive offensive quarter came in the opening period as they outscored the Braves, 24-18. Woodson and Mayes totaled 13 points as they each hit three of four field goal attempts. Hull and Chavez combined for 11 points with a trio of three-pointers between them.
Woodson dropped in a layup with a second left to put ACU up by six. ACU knocked down 10 of 16 shots from the field, including four of six attempts from three-point range.
The Wildcats maintained their six-point edge by taking a 40-34 lead into halftime. Both teams scored 16 points in the second quarter, with Mayes and Chavez totaling 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting for ACU. It shot .538 in the period. A 5-0 Bradley run got the Braves within a point, but the Wildcats scored five straight points of their own to restore their advantage.
ACU stretched its lead to as much as 13 points in the third quarter at 51-38 behind a 6-0 scoring run. Mayes collected six points of her own at a 3-of-4 mark to go with four rebounds. Bradley answered its biggest deficit with eight points in a row, cutting the Wildcats' lead down to four points at 56-52 to end the quarter. The Braves outscored the Wildcats, 18-16.
Hull did all she could in the fourth quarter to preserve ACU's lead, registering 11 points at a 4-of-5 clip. The Wildcats connected on five of nine field goal tries, but the Braves responded with a 9-of-16 effort. Bradley took its first lead of the second half at 60-58 with 6:02 to go and stretched it to seven points at 70-63 with 1:58 remaining.
Hull's three-pointer and two Troxell free throws made it a 70-68 ballgame with 1:30 left, but the Braves kept the Wildcats at bay to hold on for the victory. Bradley outscored ACU 28-18 in the fourth quarter.
