CEDAR CITY, Utah - Abilene Christian women's basketball stormed back from a double-digit halftime deficit, but Southern Utah controlled the game late to deal the Wildcats a 71-68 loss at the America First Event Center on Saturday.
ACU saw its five-game winning streak snapped as it continued its marathon of five games within 10 days. The Wildcats begin a three-game homestand at Moody Coliseum versus Tarleton State at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The teams were slated to play on Jan. 24 before the contest was rescheduled due to inclement weather.
The Wildcats allowed more than 70 points in a game for just the third time this season and for the first time since Bradley scored 80 on Nov. 29, 2025. ACU entered the day holding nine of its last 10 opponents to fewer than 60 points.
The Thunderbirds outscored the Wildcats 24-12 in the second quarter to grab a 40-30 advantage at halftime. ACU chipped away at its deficit throughout the second half, eventually knotting the score at 66 behind a
Breanna Davis layup with 1:37 to go.
Southern Utah knocked down five free throws in the final 1:10, with ACU's only points coming from a second-chance layup by
Natalia Chavez with 13 seconds remaining.
Payton Hull powered the Wildcats with 21 points on eight made field goals.
Emma Troxell registered her third double-double of the season behind 11 points and 10 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. She added a team-high three steals and never turned the ball over.
Erin Woodson tallied 15 points with five boards and two assists in 38 minutes. Chavez chipped in 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting with a pair of steals and no turnovers. Freshman
Emma Daugherty matched her career high with six rebounds.
The game was tightly-contested from the get-go as ACU took an 18-16 edge through the first quarter. Both teams traded blows as Southern Utah grabbed a 16-10 lead with 2:35 remaining before the Wildcats scored the final eight points of the period. Chavez was responsible for five points in the rally, while Hull led ACU with eight points. Troxell brought down three rebounds and came away with a pair of steals.
The Thunderbirds tipped the scales in their favor in the second quarter, knocking down 11 of 17 shots at a .647 clip. Woodson collected four points and three rebounds for the Wildcats as Southern Utah capitalized on a 12-2 rally.
ACU cut into Southern Utah's lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Thunderbirds 21-15. Hull connected on four field goal tries for nine points, while Chavez was 2 of 3 from the field with five points and two steals.
Three of Troxell's four rebounds came on the offensive end, while Daugherty reeled in two offensive boards of her own. The Wildcats gained seven second-chance points and forced six turnovers, transforming them into nine points. Southern Utah took a 55-51 lead into the fourth quarter.
Troxell and Woodson combined for 11 points in the final period, while Hull and Daugherty had three rebounds and one steal apiece. ACU forced six turnovers and limited Southern Utah to a 4-of-13 mark from the field.
