by HOUSTON — The Wildcat women’s basketball team was put to the test in game two of their season on Sunday against Conference USA’s Rice University, and ACU showed what they can become in 2022. The Wildcats (1-1) fell 85-69 to the Owls (2-0) at Tudor Fieldhouse, but led by as many as seven in the first half, and kept pace with a group-of-five team inside. Newcomers Raychael Harjo (Chickasaw/Seminole) and Maleeah Langstaff had big days, and the ‘Cats outscored a taller Owls team 39-26 in the paint. ACU got in foul trouble throughout the course of the game, but shot 50% from the floor Sunday afternoon and showed their athleticism throughout the game.
Key Plays
- Langstaff set the tone with a basket to even the game up at two, and the Wildcats knew they could score inside.
- Addison Martin, who was in foul trouble all game, scored to put ACU up 6-4, and moments later, Harjo hit her first three of the game to push the advantage to 9-4. It was early momentum for ACU.
- After a 6-0 run by Rice to take the lead back, Harjo stopped the bleeding with a reverse layup to go back in front. It was back-and-forth almost the entire first half on Sunday.
- Harjo then scored five-straight ACU points later in the first to tie it up at 18. Harjo had 10 all in the first quarter. Rice did go on a 6-0 run and led 24-18 at the end of the first.
- ACU went on a 7-1 run to start the second quarter, however, with Harjo scoring inside and Brooke Jessen scoring five consecutive points. The game was tied at 25.
- ACU trailed 35-34 with 2:37 to go until halftime, and they did not allow another Rice point. Langstaff scored inside and Madi Miller banged home a three to force a timeout, and the lead was 39-35. Langstaff would then hit a three with under a minute to play in the half, and ACU took a seven-point, 42-35, lead into the locker room.
- The second half was when Rice was able to put the ball in the basket. The Owls scored 50 points in the second half, and held ACU to just 34, and shot 58% from the field, including seven made three-pointers.
- Rice outscored ACU 24-11 in the third quarter, erasing their deficit and building up a lead. The Wildcats, who continued to be in foul trouble, missed a few shots in the second half and ultimately fell in the end.
Stat Pack
- Harjo, the transfer from Central Florida, had her best collegiate game with 22 points and three rebounds, all while battling with four fouls. Addison Martin, who got in early foul trouble, came off the floor as a starter, and Harjo came in and made the most of it. Harjo shot 10-14 from the floor with a pair of triples.
