Wildcats Mount Fourth-Quarter Rally in WNIT Second Round Win Over Panthers

Tuesday, March 24

Abilene, Texas

6 p.m. (CT)

Abilene Christian

24-10,13-5WAC

Florida International

21-12,12-6CUSA

FIU

Abilene Christian

Natalia Chavez and Jazmyn Stone celebrate ACU's 77-66 win over Florida International at the Mabee Complex on March 24, 2026.

Photo by: Aly Bayliss

Wildcats Mount Fourth-Quarter Rally in WNIT Second Round Win Over Panthers

3/24/2026 11:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Luke White

ABILENE - Abilene Christian women's basketball mounted a fourth-quarter rally to pull out a 77-66 win in the second round of the Postseason WNIT in front of an electric crowd at the Mabee Complex on Tuesday night. The Wildcats advanced to the tournament's Super 16 for the second year in a row, matching their deepest postseason run of the Division I era.

ACU will face a rematch with Illinois State, who it faced in last season's Super 16. The Wildcats will meet the Redbirds at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. at 6:30 p.m. (CT) Friday.

ACU secured its 24th win of the season, its most since 2019-20, and its 15th home victory, the program's most this century. The Wildcats played at Hardin-Simmons' facility while Moody Coliseum is prepared for the campus-wide Sing Song event.

With a two-point halftime lead turning into just a three-point advantage entering the fourth quarter, ACU outscored FIU 21-13 in the final period behind 13 total points from Jazmyn Stone and Natalia Chavez. Stone turned in her best game as a Wildcat with a season-high 13 points and a career-best seven assists to just one turnover. She shot 4 of 6 from the field, including a 2-of-2 mark from three-point range.

ACU knocked down 12 of 27 attempts from beyond the arc for its second-most three-pointers and second-highest three-point percentage of the season. The Wildcats connected on over half their shots at a 29-of-57 clip, their second-highest percentage of the year versus a Division I opponent at .509. On the defensive end, ACU forced 23 turnovers to just 10 of its own, its third-fewest of the season.

Four Wildcats scored in the double figures, led by Erin Woodson's 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting. She hit two of four three-point tries and came away with five steals to match her season best. Three of Woodson's five rebounds came on the offensive glass.

Chavez rattled off 17 points in a season-high 38 minutes. She sank six of 10 field goal attempts, including a 5-of-8 showing from long distance. Chavez tied her season high with a trio of steals. Payton Hull proved versatile with 16 points, four assists and three steals. Three of her six field goals were from beyond the arc.

Emma Troxell added nine points, two steals and four rebounds, each coming on the offensive end.

The Wildcats faced an early deficit as the Panthers jumped to an 8-2 lead to begin the opening quarter. ACU found its footing, responding with a 10-0 run to move in front, 15-10. The Wildcats led by as much as 19-14 with less than a minute to play, but a late FIU rally knotted the score at 19 through one period. ACU made over half its shots at 8 of 15 with six Wildcats scoring.

ACU took a six-point edge behind a Chavez three-pointer with a minute to go before halftime, but two Panther baskets in the final 15 seconds made it a 34-32 Wildcat lead at the break.

Erin Woodson came to life in the third quarter with 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 mark from the field with two three-pointers. ACU shot 9 of 13 in the period with a 3-of-6 clip from long range. The Wildcats moved ahead by as much as seven, but the Panthers continued to have an answer. They kept things neck and neck to make it a 56-53 game entering the final quarter.

ACU led just 65-61 halfway through the fourth quarter before ending the game on a 12-5 run. The Wildcats scored seven points in a row to secure their first double-digit lead at 72-61 with 2:38 to play, capped by Stone's three-pointer off of her own offensive rebound. She chipped in four more points to seal ACU's victory.