by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
The 6-1 Abilene Christian University Wildcats Women’s Basketball team is working to follow up their appearance last year in the 2019 NCAA DI National Tournament. They also have an individual milestone that just happened.
ACU’s Dominique Golightly came into the game vs. Tulsa last night needing 13 points to score her 1000th career point and she left the game with 1009 points. The Wildcats defeated Tulsa 73-63.
Dominique was the first female 1000-point scorer at Chickasha HS in Oklahoma. She graduated in 2016 as a VYPE Top 100 OK basketball player, First Team Suburban All-Conference, and OK Coaches Association Large West and Middle West All State Team member. She was also a National Honor Society.
Dominique is a 5’11, senior guard at Abilene Christian University in Texas. She is studying Elementary Education as a major. Her career statistics are best to be looked at in her team profile due to being lengthy: https://acusports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/dominique-golightly/8015
She was named All-Southland Conference Second Team and Academic Second Team during last season of 2018-19. She was also named to the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
“Ms. Dominique is of Kiowa descent,” said Matthew M. Komalty, Chairman of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. “Although she was not raised in the traditional sense she is very proud of her native heritage. Recently her team came to Norman, OK to play ‘OU’, and we had a chance to honor her with a Chief Joseph Pendleton blanket and eagle feather, and various other gifts. We hope the best for her and wish her well, and we are very proud of Dominique.”
The Kiowa tribal leadership and membership are proud of one of their own excelling in athletics and the classroom at an NCAA DI university. A plaque in recognition for her hard work and commitment to ACU was presented to her. “She also came down in August for the American Indian Exposition and was a special guest for the parade,” said Derek Topfi, Kiowa Tribe of OK Youth Sports Director. “She rode with our boys and girls.”
“Being Native American is an honor,” said Dominique. “We are taught respect, honor, and pride. When it is said that it takes a village, we take that saying literally. Family goes beyond the scope of what most people think. Being Native American, cousins are your brother/sister, aunts/uncles are your mom/dad and all elders are your grandparents. This has taught me to listen and to be coachable. No excuses! I have to work hard on the court not only for myself but also for my family/tribe that I represent. There are not many native athletes playing on a Division 1 level, so I have to work that much harder to help pave the way for younger ones to want to reach their potential to play basketball at the next level.”
“My parents are the ones who have positively influenced me the most,” said Dominique. “They taught me to work hard in school to be able to receive a full scholarship to play basketball. If that option didn’t work, I could still receive a full scholarship in academics. My dad played college ball. He would have me play up in age to help me to prepare to play tough and to be physical. My brother also played college basketball. We were and are constantly in the gym shooting, working out, or playing against one another.”
Dominique’s parents are Eric and Melanie Golightly. They live in Chickasha, OK. “Dominique is a very unique leader,” said dad Eric. “She leads by example, and one of her strengths is her dedication and desire. To see her teammates excel on and off the court. She is a humble leader.” Mom Melanie added: “Dominique is a very unselfish player. She is always willing to do what she can to help others and encourage them to reach their potential.”
Star athletes have a message ready to be expressed to young future stars. “It is very important to have good work ethics,” said Dominique. “Don’t make excuses! Be coachable! Also, don’t be on social media. Life is before you, not seeing what other people are doing or how many followers you may have. It is too easy to innocently say something or post something and it may be taken out of context. You cannot take something back once it is posted on social media. Coaches do their homework and pay attention to what you post. Don’t let something you thought was funny or an innocent joke prevent you from receiving an offer from a college or coach.”
Dominique reflected on being recruited to ACU: “When I was a sophomore in high school, ABC Coach Goodenough began to recruit me. At that time I believed the hype that I should go play at a big D1 school. As it turns out, bigger isn’t always better. During this time, Coach Goodenough believed in me and kept my scholarship open for me. Once I visited the campus and it felt like home to me, I knew that ACU was where I was supposed to go. Being at ACU has helped me to grow as a student, an athlete and as an individual. I have been able to be apart of a team that has won two conference championships and last year we made it to the NCAA Tournament. Not many people can say they have made it to the Big Dance, but we did last year and we are working towards making it again this year.”
Julie Goodenough, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Abilene Christian University reflected about her star player: “I would love to have a team full of players like Dominique Golightly! It has been a blessing and privilege to be her head coach! She is a role model by example through her work ethic and her positive attitude. She has grown up so much at ACU, gaining confidence to be the best version of her self on and off the court! Don’t let her sweet spirit and beautiful smile fool you though because she is a fierce competitor too.”
The 2019-20 ACU Wildcats Schedule is located here: https://acusports.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule
Photographs Credit: ACU Sports
