OREM, Utah - Abilene Christian women's basketball's comeback effort came up just short in a 69-67 loss to Utah Valley at the UCCU Center on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats nearly battled back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit before dropping their first Western Athletic Conference matchup of the season.
ACU looks to bounce back when it returns to Moody Coliseum for in-state tilts with Tarleton State and UT Arlington next week. The Wildcats take on the Texans at 6 p.m. Thursday before facing the Lady Mavs at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.
The Wildcats trailed by as much as 11 points with 42 seconds to go in the third quarter before facing a nine-point deficit with 4:04 left in the game. ACU launched an 8-0 run to get within a point with 25 seconds remaining, but couldn't do any more damage.
ACU boasted its top three-point shooting percentage of the season, sinking eight of 21 attempts from deep at .381. It connected on 22 of 47 field goal tries at .468, its second-highest shooting percentage of the season against a Division I foe. On the defensive end, the Wildcats forced 24 turnovers.
Payton Hull powered the Wildcats with her second 20-point effort in her last three games. She contributed 21 points at an 8-of-17 clip with a team-high five steals and two steals. Hull has 21 steals in her last three games.
Meredith Mayes registered 15 points and eight rebounds while playing the entire 40 minutes. She nailed half her shots at 4 of 8 and matched her career high with seven free throws.
Erin Woodson was the final ACU player in double digits with 13 points.
Emma Troxell added eight points, four boards and two steals.
The Wildcats battled to a slim 20-19 lead through the game's first quarter behind seven points from Hull and six from Mayes. ACU knocked down eight of 16 field goal tries, with Hull and Mayes combining for a 5-of-10 clip. The Wildcats forced six Wolverine turnovers, turning it over just once themselves compared to five assists.
Utah Valley tipped the scales in its favor in the second quarter, outscoring ACU 22-11. Mayes powered the Wildcats with four points, three boards and two assists. The Wolverines were nearly a one-woman show with Kylee Mabry pouring in 15 points off the bench in the period. A 9-0 rally pushed Utah Valley ahead at halftime, 41-31.
ACU engineered another one-point edge in the third quarter at 17-16. Hull was perfect from the field at 3 of 3 with seven points and two rebounds, while Woodson added six points. The Wildcats limited the Wolverines to a 5-of-11 mark with five turnovers. ACU made it a five-point game on several occasions, but Utah Valley restored a 57-48 advantage entering the final period.
Hull and
Breanna Davis rose to the occasion for the Wildcats in the fourth quarter, combining for 13 points. ACU's defense limited Utah Valley to six field goal attempts and nine turnovers. Trailing by nine with 4:04 to go, a Hull layup, Davis three-pointer and a trio of free throws by Mayes got the Wildcats within a point. The Wolverines reinforced their lead with a free throw and defended a pair of ACU shots to seal the game.
