LAS VEGAS - Abilene Christian women's basketball's 2024-25 campaign came to a close with a 75-65 loss to Utah Valley in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.
The Wildcats wrap up the season with a 20-12 record and a 9-7 mark in league play, their most victories and best conference winning percentage since 2019-20. In ACU's fourth season in the WAC, it is its best showing in both categories.
ACU's
Emma Troxell poured in a career-best 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including a 4-of-7 mark from three-point range. She tallied 15 points in the second half as the Wildcats outscored the Wolverines after halftime, 47-39. However, a 36-18 halftime deficit became too big a hole to climb out of at Orleans Arena.
Payton Hull made her return to the hardwood for the first time since suffering an injury on Jan. 16, scoring 15 points with a team-high six rebounds and four assists.
Meredith Mayes added 12 points and was a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Mayes' 97 offensive rebounds and 35 blocks this season rank third and sixth, respectively, in ACU's Division I era single-season record books, dating back to 2013-14.
Bella Earle, with three made field goals, raised her season total to 166, the most in the program's Division I history. She scored seven points for 442 on the year, tied for eighth-most in a season, while her 73 steals are third. Earle's 131 assists and 224 rebounds are also in the top 10, and her 1,080 minutes played rank third.
After the 118th and final game of her collegiate career, Earle is the only player in ACU history to tally 1,100 points, 750 rebounds and 375 assists. She is a mainstay in the Wildcats' Division I top 10 ranks in points, rebounds, assists, steals, games played, field goals, three-pointers and free throws.
Utah Valley was charged by a pair of 20-point scorers in Tahlia White and Amanda Barcello, who totaled 50 points. The duo combined for a 17-of-27 clip from the field and a 10-of-13 mark from three-point range. Danja Stafford Collins, the WAC leader in rebounds per game, finished one board shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Wolverines drew first blood in capturing a 16-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats were held to a 3-of-14 clip from the field while the Wolverines nailed seven of 14 shots.
Natalia Chavez hit ACU's lone three-pointer, notching her sixth game in a row with a make from long range.
The Wildcats developed a presence in the paint with 11 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end, but were limited by eight turnovers. Halle Nelson led Utah Valley's effort with four points and three boards with an assist, a block and a steal.
The Wolverines broke the game open in the second quarter behind a 12-point stampede from Barcello. Utah Valley ended the period on a 14-2 run to grab a 36-18 halftime lead as Barcello nailed a trio of three-pointers. She hit each of her four field goal attempts in the quarter for 12 points, while no other Wolverine scored more than two.
ACU hit just two of 18 shots in the period compared to a 7-of-13 mark for Utah Valley. Troxell sank the Wildcats' only three pointer on 10 tries, while Mayes and Hull combined to sink each of their six free throw attempts. Earle and Hull totaled seven of ACU's 12 rebounds.
The Wildcats cut a 21-point deficit down to eight points at 49-41 behind a 7-0 run in the third quarter, but the Wolverines responded with a 7-1 run in the final minute to up their edge to 58-44. ACU churned out its most productive quarter at 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting, spurred by seven points each by Earle and Hull.
Earle made each of her three shots, while Hull netted two of three three-pointers. White, a WAC All-Defensive Team selection, got hot for Utah Valley with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
The Wildcats continued to outscore the Wolverines in the fourth quarter, 21-17, but their double-digit deficit proved to be too much to overcome. Troxell scored 10 of her 20 points in the period, making each of her three shots with two baskets from long range.
ACU will return to Moody Coliseum in November to begin the 2025-26 campaign.
WATCH: Postgame Press Conference
