By Jonathon Zenk, Northwestern State Assistant Director of Communications; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
ABILENE, Texas—A huge first quarter run set the tone, as the Northwestern State women’s basketball team saw its season come to an end with an 86-59 loss on the road Thursday evening to Abilene Christian.
The short-handed Demons (16-16) started off strong, but could not overcome a 17-0 first quarter run, which pushed the game to a double-digit Wildcats (21-12) lead and Northwestern State never recovered.
“I thought the entire group played incredibly hard tonight,” head coach Anna Nimz said. “We were missing a couple key defensive players, but I believe the girls stepped up and did their best.
“Give credit to ACU. They are a great team with excellent perimeter shooters.”
Even in defeat, it still remains the best season since 2015-16 for the Demons.
The Demons began the on a high note, as back-to-back 3-pointers from Sharna Ayres helped lead an 8-2 early run from the visitors to go in front 10-6.
But the Wildcats dominated the rest of the half, scoring the next 17 points and ending the quarter on a 24-4 run to lead 30-14 after the first quarter.
Erin Woodson scored 11 of her game-high 21 points during the run to ACU never let up from there.
In that first quarter, ACU shot 12-of-22 overall and made nine of its final 10 shots and eight straight at one point, including each of its final four 3-point attempts.
The middle two quarters were played to a near draw and either the Demons cut into the deficit by three, as Northwestern State went on a 9-0 run spanning the second and third quarters, including back-to-back triples from Zhane Thompson and Ayres to cut it the deficit to 44-34, but that was as close as the Demons made it, as the Wildcats scored seven straight to put it out of reach.
Northwestern State cut it to 11 on an 8-0 run late in the third, but every time the Demons were on the brink of cutting the deficit to single digits, ACU immediately went on a run to take back control.
The Demons ran out of magic in the fourth, as the Wildcats dominated to the tune of a 22-8 final period to make the score a bit deceiving.
ACU shot 46.2 percent for the game, including 9-of-22 from deep, compared to Northwestern State’s 36.7 percent and 8-of-32.
While the Wildcats put up numbers from deep, they also went inside a good deal as well, scoring 42 points in the paint.
The Wildcats helped themselves immensely from the free throw line, making 17-of-20 from the charity stripe.
Three Demons reached double figures, led by Sharna Ayres and Mya Blake, who each scored 14. Vernell Atamah scored 11 points on just seven shots, while Thompson recorded nine points on three made triples.
In addition to Woodson, three more Wildcats reached double digits in points: Merideth Mayes (16), Payton Hull (15) and Bella Earle (13).
Led by Woodson’s 21, ACU’s bench poured in 31 points.
“I am proud of our group and proud of their season,” Nimz said. “I am excited for our future.
“Thank you Demonland for all of your support this season.”