ABILENE - Abilene Christian women's basketball returned to the win column with a dominant 84-66 victory over Utah Tech at Moody Coliseum on Thursday night. The Wildcats snapped a three-game losing streak in Western Athletic Conference play and improved to 3-5 in league play.
A potent offensive attack and a physical effort on the glass guided ACU to the win. It sank 31 of 53 field goal attempts and was 16-of-33 from three-point range, both season-best percentages. It was the Wildcats' most three-pointers in a game this year and the most since they sank 18 against UT Arlington on Nov. 29, 2023.
Emma Troxell sank a career-high five three-pointers on seven attempts as part of a career-best 19-point effort to pace the ACU offense. Bella Earle poured in 17 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep to go with six rebounds, three steals and a team-high seven assists.
ACU held a 38-22 edge on the boards, including 11 offensive rebounds. Meredith Mayes paced the Wildcats with 12 boards, seven of which came on the offensive end. She added 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting to complete the double-double with a plus-minus of 27. Erin Woodson was the fourth Wildcat in double figures with 12 points and a trio of three-pointers. She added a season-best five rebounds.
The Wildcats wasted little time building their lead, jumping to an 18-11 advantage before closing the first quarter with a 22-18 edge. They sank 10 of their first 17 shots and outrebounded the Trailblazers, 11-4, through the first 10 minutes. Troxell scored seven points in the period, while Mayes added six points and six boards.
ACU bookended the second quarter on runs, using a 16-3 rally to grab a 17-point edge with 4:34 to go in the period. Utah Tech cut the lead to 10 with a 7-0 streak, but the Wildcats scored the last six points before halftime to push their lead to 44-28. Earle swished a three-pointer with a second to go before the break as ACU outscored Utah Tech 22-10 in the second quarter.
The Wildcats ended the first half sinking 18 of their 31 field goal attempts and seven of 17 three-point tries. ACU pulled down 21 rebounds, including nine on the offensive glass, to Utah Tech's 11 boards. The Trailblazers' Emily Isaacson led her team with 12 points at the half and finished the game with a team-high 19 points and five rebounds to go with six steals. Chardonnay Hartley logged seven steals.
Both squads put together their most productive quarters after halftime as ACU and Utah Tech each scored 23 points in the third period. Both squads nailed at least 60% of their shots and were 55% or better from beyond the arc. Earle and Mayes added six points apiece while Earle brought down four rebounds.
The Trailblazers scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to get within single digits, but the Wildcats' shooting came to life to sink five of their next seven three-point attempts. Troxell nailed each of her three shots from long range in the quarter.
ACU returns to Moody Coliseum on Saturday to take on Southern Utah in Hoops for a Hope, presented by Hendrick Health. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
