by HUNTSVILLE – Four Abilene Christian starters scored deep into double figures Saturday during the Wildcats’ 91-79 win vs. Sam Houston State at Johnson Coliseum. Junior Dominique Golightly (Kiowa Tribe) recorded a career-high 26 points thanks to five 3-pointers followed by senior Sara Williamson with 23 points, junior Breanna Wright with 18 points and sophomore Makayla Mabry with 16 points.
The Wildcats are now 2-0 vs. the Southland Conference and 9-4 overall, while the Bearkats slipped to 5-6 overall in their league debut for the 2018-19 season.
“To reach your goals you have to start with winning on the road, and it’s difficult everywhere we go,” said head coach Julie Goodenough. “I’m proud of my players for locking in and not losing confidence in their shots. They were ready to play today.”
Sam Houston’s Amber Leggett (19 points on 8-9 shooting) scored the first bucket today but the Wildcats quickly responded with a 7-0 spurt that included consecutive baskets by Williamson and the first of four 3-pointers by Mabry. The Bearkats, however, countered with an 8-0 run to grab a 10-7 lead, but it did not last long as the Wildcats took the lead for good with four consecutive field goals from Williamson, Golightly (3-pointer), Mabry (3-pointer) and Alyssa Adams (four points, five rebounds) just prior to the media timeout.
ACU scored 27 first-quarter points behind 47.1 percent shooting and remained consistent for the rest of the night finishing with a 50.9 shooting percentage (29-57). A dozen of their 29 field goals were from the 3-point arc, and at the foul line, they made 21-of-27 attempts (.778).
The Wildcats grabbed their first double-digit lead (32-22) early in the second quarter on another trey from Mabry, led 67-54 after 30 minutes, and pushed their advantage out to 20 (82-62) after a 3-pointer from Wright midway through the fourth.
The junior from Jarrell, Texas scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half.
“Brea was hard-nosed in the second half,” said Goodenough. “She was double teamed a lot, and Sara (nine assists) made some good decisions and reads. She really is tough to guard.
In scoring 26 points in 36 minutes, Golightly sank 8-of-16 field-goal attempts (5-11 3-point range) and was 5-6 from the charity stripe. She also led the team with seven rebounds and blocked two shots.
“She and many of her teammates have been working hard over the holidays,” said Goodenough,” and this was kind of her breakout night. Not only does she has the perfect form for a 3-pointers, but she can also take the ball and drive through the zone.”
The toughest aspect of today’s game was the amount of foul trouble the Wildcats found themselves in as four post players fouled out: starters Mabry and Lexie Ducat, and reserves Lexi Kirgan and Adams. They were responsible for 20 of the team’s 32 fouls, which resulted in 38 trips to the charity stripe but the Bearkats connected on only 23 attempts (.605).
The Bearkats had two of their highest scoring players foul out, Jaylonn Walker (17) and Leggett (19). Walker’s disqualification came right after she made back-to-back 3-pointers early in the fourth that cut ACU’s lead to 72-61. Wright then hit two free throws followed by a layup by Mabry to push ACU’s lead back to 76-62.
