ABILENE -
Payton Hull and
Erin Woodson combined for 52 points to spearhead Abilene Christian women's basketball's 70-50 victory over Utah Valley at Moody Coliseum on Thursday night. It's the most points by two Wildcats in one game since Madi Miller and Aspen Thornton combined for 54 points versus UT Arlington on Jan. 7, 2023.
ACU aims to finish off a rare three-game week undefeated when it hosts conference frontrunner California Baptist at Moody Coliseum at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Wildcats can match the Lancers atop the Western Athletic Conference standings at 9-2 with a win. ACU beat CBU in Riverside, Calif. on Jan. 15, 70-58.
Saturday's game will feature an array of promotions, with the Wildcats debuting alternate pink jerseys for the first time this year. It's part of the Hoops for a Hope moment, presented by Hendrick Health. Former ACU women's basketball student-athletes will be recognized as part of the Legends of Moody celebration, and halftime will include the Wildcat Diaper Derby baby race, presented by Hendrick Health.
After a 27-point effort in the Wildcats' victory over Tarleton State on Tuesday, Hull outdid herself with 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting against the Wolverines. She knocked down a season-best five three-pointers on seven attempts from beyond the arc. Hull tallied three assists and four steals as ACU forced 23 turnovers.
Hull has combined for 55 points at a .633 clip in her last two games. The WAC's leading scorer has rattled off 21 points in her last three games and four of her last five.
Woodson followed with a career-high 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including a career-best eight free throws. She brought down a team-high six rebounds, featuring three on the offensive glass, with three assists. Woodson connected on multiple three-point tries for the 12th time this season.
Emma Troxell continued to succeed as the "glue girl" for the Wildcats, tallying five rebounds and a team-high four assists while matching her career best with four steals. While not filling the stat sheet,
Jazmyn Stone proved to be one of the top players on the floor with a plus-minus of 20 in just 18 minutes.
ACU limited Utah Valley to just 40 field goal tries, tied for the fewest it has allowed this year and the least by a Division I opponent. The Wildcats collected 26 points off of turnovers and led by as much as 32 in the fourth quarter following a 45-26 halftime edge.
The Wildcats reached their best start to conference play since 2016-17 at 8-2 and improved to 12-0 at home with their 17th straight win at Moody Coliseum.
Hull and Woodson jumped to an early start, scoring 13 of ACU's 17 points in the first quarter. Hull shot 3-of-4 from the field, while Woodson sank each of her four free throw attempts. Troxell added two assists and two steals as the Wildcats battled to a slim 17-16 advantage.
ACU opened the floodgates in the second period as Hull and Woodson were responsible for 23 of the team's 28 points. The pair hit nine of 11 shots and totaled five assists, with Hull chipping in a trio of steals. The Wildcats sported an 11-of-14 shooting clip while holding the Wolverines to 10 points at 2 of 9. ACU was 3 of 5 from long distance.
The Wildcats turned eight Utah Valley turnovers into 14 points with 16 points in the paint. An 11-0 ACU rally across 1:16 of game action broke the contest open.
Both teams' defenses emerged in the third quarter as the Wildcats suffocated the Wolverines to the tune of seven points and nine turnovers. Utah Valley attempted just six field goal tries. Hull scored eight points, while Woodson absorbed four of her eight fouls drawn on the night.
The Wolverines outscored the Wildcats in the fourth quarter, 17-11, but ACU's damage had been done. It emptied the bench as each active student-athlete saw playing time.
