Monday, November 2
Abilene, Texas
6 p.m.
Abilene Christian
1-0,0-0UAC
108
vs
32
Howard Payne
0-0,0-0ASC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Payne | 2 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 32 |
| Abilene Christian | 26 | 28 | 23 | 31 | 108 |
Photo by: Nataly Zuniga
11/2/2026 11:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ABILENE — Abilene Christian women's basketball shined on both ends of the court in a season-opening 108-32 win over Howard Payne at Moody Coliseum on Monday night. The Wildcats' 76-point margin of victory is their largest since a 108-21 win over Southwest Adventist in 2012 as they allowed their fewest points since 2020.
ACU connected on 54.5% of its shots while limiting Howard Payne to a .204 clip from the field. It's the lowest shooting percentage by a Wildcat opponent since 2020's 81-26 win over UT Tyler. The Wildcats converted 34 Lady Jacket turnovers into 49 points behind 22 steals and capitalized with 25 second-chance points.
The Wildcats picked up their 10th straight season-opening victory and continued their dominance at Moody Coliseum with their 21st win in their last 23 home games. Head coach Julie Goodenough earned her 275th victory at ACU to kick off her 15th season at the helm of the Wildcats.
ACU drained 17 three-pointers, its most in three seasons, at 37%. Preseason United Athletic Conference Player of the Year Payton Hull led the way with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting with a 4-of-10 mark from long distance. She was just as strong on the defensive side of the ball, coming away with a career-high eight steals.
Riley Grohman opened her sophomore season on a high note with a career effort. She tallied a career-high 15 points at a 6-of-10 clip, including a 3-of-7 mark from deep in 20 minutes. Grohman's versatile performance featured career bests with five assists and four steals, while her six field goals and trio of three-pointers are also career highs.
Emma Troxell followed with 16 points on an efficient 6-of-9 showing from the field. With three rebounds, she surpassed 500 career boards after entering the season one shy of the milestone. Preseason All-UAC selection Erin Woodson added 12 points and tied for the team lead with five rebounds. Molly Daugherty was the final Wildcat in double figures with 10 points, the most since her collegiate debut last season.
College of Southern Idaho transfer Samara Morrow impressed in her first action at ACU, leading the team with seven assists and scoring eight points on 3-of-4 shooting. Meredith Mayes, the Wildcats' third Preseason All-UAC honoree, returned to action after missing 19 games last year with an injury. She brought down five boards to go with three steals and three assists.
Eleven Wildcats saw the court, with each of them playing at least 11 minutes.
ACU set the tone early on in the opening period, outscoring Howard Payne 26-2 and holding the Lady Jackets to a mere 1-of-12 shooting. Troxell and Hull combined for 17 points with three field goals apiece. Hull had a pair of steals. Howard Payne turned the ball over 10 times in the first 10 minutes, and ACU turned them into 11 points.
The Wildcats' shooting only got better as they sank 11 of 22 field goal attempts in the second quarter. Hull and Natalia Chavez each notched six points on two three-pointers apiece, with Chavez adding three rebounds. Morrow had three boards and four assists. ACU took a 54-10 lead into halftime after scoring 28 points in the second frame, 13 of which were the result of Howard Payne turnovers.
After a scoreless first half, Grohman came to life in the third quarter with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, featuring a pair of three-pointers. She complemented her scoring with a pair of steals as the Wildcats took a 77-20 lead into the fourth quarter.
ACU's offense was at its best in the fourth quarter with 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting, good for a .722 percentage. Woodson led the attack with eight points and three rebounds. Hull and Incarnate Word transfer Raimi McCrary were each a perfect 3 of 3 from the field and combined for 13 points. Hull registered three steals as the Wildcats turned the Lady Jackets' nine turnovers into 17 points.
ACU connected on 54.5% of its shots while limiting Howard Payne to a .204 clip from the field. It's the lowest shooting percentage by a Wildcat opponent since 2020's 81-26 win over UT Tyler. The Wildcats converted 34 Lady Jacket turnovers into 49 points behind 22 steals and capitalized with 25 second-chance points.
The Wildcats picked up their 10th straight season-opening victory and continued their dominance at Moody Coliseum with their 21st win in their last 23 home games. Head coach Julie Goodenough earned her 275th victory at ACU to kick off her 15th season at the helm of the Wildcats.
ACU drained 17 three-pointers, its most in three seasons, at 37%. Preseason United Athletic Conference Player of the Year Payton Hull led the way with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting with a 4-of-10 mark from long distance. She was just as strong on the defensive side of the ball, coming away with a career-high eight steals.
Riley Grohman opened her sophomore season on a high note with a career effort. She tallied a career-high 15 points at a 6-of-10 clip, including a 3-of-7 mark from deep in 20 minutes. Grohman's versatile performance featured career bests with five assists and four steals, while her six field goals and trio of three-pointers are also career highs.
Emma Troxell followed with 16 points on an efficient 6-of-9 showing from the field. With three rebounds, she surpassed 500 career boards after entering the season one shy of the milestone. Preseason All-UAC selection Erin Woodson added 12 points and tied for the team lead with five rebounds. Molly Daugherty was the final Wildcat in double figures with 10 points, the most since her collegiate debut last season.
College of Southern Idaho transfer Samara Morrow impressed in her first action at ACU, leading the team with seven assists and scoring eight points on 3-of-4 shooting. Meredith Mayes, the Wildcats' third Preseason All-UAC honoree, returned to action after missing 19 games last year with an injury. She brought down five boards to go with three steals and three assists.
Eleven Wildcats saw the court, with each of them playing at least 11 minutes.
ACU set the tone early on in the opening period, outscoring Howard Payne 26-2 and holding the Lady Jackets to a mere 1-of-12 shooting. Troxell and Hull combined for 17 points with three field goals apiece. Hull had a pair of steals. Howard Payne turned the ball over 10 times in the first 10 minutes, and ACU turned them into 11 points.
The Wildcats' shooting only got better as they sank 11 of 22 field goal attempts in the second quarter. Hull and Natalia Chavez each notched six points on two three-pointers apiece, with Chavez adding three rebounds. Morrow had three boards and four assists. ACU took a 54-10 lead into halftime after scoring 28 points in the second frame, 13 of which were the result of Howard Payne turnovers.
After a scoreless first half, Grohman came to life in the third quarter with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, featuring a pair of three-pointers. She complemented her scoring with a pair of steals as the Wildcats took a 77-20 lead into the fourth quarter.
ACU's offense was at its best in the fourth quarter with 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting, good for a .722 percentage. Woodson led the attack with eight points and three rebounds. Hull and Incarnate Word transfer Raimi McCrary were each a perfect 3 of 3 from the field and combined for 13 points. Hull registered three steals as the Wildcats turned the Lady Jackets' nine turnovers into 17 points.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballTeam Stats
HPU
ACU
FG%
.204
.545
3FG%
.231
.370
FT%
.667
.778
RB
34
40
TO
34
6
STL
3
22
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Tuesday, November 03
Tuesday, November 03
Monday, November 02
Sunday, November 01
