by BILENE –Dominique Golightly (Kiowa Tribe) scored a career-high 29 points, the defense allowed just 28% shooting in the second half, and the Wildcat women’s basketball team got back on track on a snowy day against the Northwestern State Lady Demons. ACU (16-4, 8-3 SLC) snapped a two-game losing streak with an 84-69 win that featured five players in double figures and another double-double.
Winter Wonderland
- Due to the whiteout conditions with snow and ice in Abilene, the game was moved up from its original start time of 5:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Fans and students got in free, and Moody Coliseum had a wonderful crowd on hand.
Southland Significance
- ACU kept pace in the top four of the standings, sitting a game back of SFA, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and Sam Houston State, who are all tied at the top at 9-2. ACU will play three of its final nine games against those three opponents.
Wednesday’s Turning Point: A defensive third quarter.
- ACU allowed 42 first-half points, on 17-34 shooting from the floor. The first 20 minutes was all offense, with the Wildcats scoring 48 points with eight three-pointers. However, it all turned in the third quarter.
- The defense held Northwestern State to just 10 points, their second-lowest total of the year in that quarter. NSU shot just 4-11 from the floor and 1-5 from the three-point line.
- The defense continued into the fourth quarter, allowing just 3-14 from the floor in the final 10 minutes.
Key Plays
- Dominique Golightly’s offense was there from opening jump. The senior hit a three-pointer in the first 45 seconds, on her way to seven makes from distance in the game, matching a career-best.
- Golightly’s second three was followed by Makayla Mabry hitting from distance, and ACU jumped out to an 18-9 lead.
- The second quarter was tightly contested, but Lexie Ducat took over inside. The senior scored six points in an eight-point stretch for ACU, and guided the ‘Cats to a six-point halftime lead.
- Golightly got the third quarter started with a steal and a layup, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.
- Madi Miller hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 13, and ACU’s lead would not get smaller than 14 the rest of the way.
- Golightly hit back-to-back triples with three minutes to play, giving her the best scoring total of her career.
Stat Pack
- Golightly’s 29 points is a career-high, as is her seven three-pointers made. The senior finished with three steals as well.
