WKU Women’s Basketball improved to a perfect 4-0 Thursday with a 68-64 win over the Abilene Christian Wildcats.
WKU led for all but 18 seconds to push them past the finish line.
WKU was led by junior guards Acacia Hayes and Josie Gilven. Gilven was the leading scorer with 27 points, shooting 64% and 43% from three. Gilven also pulled down seven rebounds. Hayes added 14 points along with five steals.
Despite the Wildcats shooting better from the field it was turnovers that paid dividends as WKU forced 23 turnovers and accumulated 25 points off said turnovers.
FIRST HALF
In the first quarter, the Wildcats struck first with two easy free throws, however, WKU went on a 13-0 run to give the Lady Toppers a comfortable 13-2 lead. WKU went on the run due to active hands as they forced eight turnovers in their four-minute run. After multiple timeouts, the Wildcats went on their own 6-2 run to close the gap to 15-9. The Lady Toppers took a 22-15 lead going into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the Lady Toppers continued to stay in control behind Gilvin who led WKU with seven points in the second half to give WKU a 41-33 lead.
WKU continued to be active and forced multiple turnovers which led to six Lady Topper points. To end the first half the Lady Toppers went on a 9-2 run.
SECOND HALF
Abilene Christian came out of halftime and went on a quick 13-6 run. WKU answered after the Wildcats brought the game within one making it 47-46 with 2:10 left in the third quarter. WKU ended the quarter hitting a three and a pull-up shot to make it a 52-48 going into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
To begin the fourth quarter Hayes led a six-point run for WKU where she had five of the six points as they jumped out to an early 58-48 lead in four minutes.
The Wildcats pulled the game within two behind sophomore guard Payton Hull hitting a huge three with 33 seconds left to make it a 66-64 game. Despite the three, it was too little too late as Gilven headed to the line for the Lady Toppers and put the nail in the coffin hitting both free throws to make it a 68-64 final.
WKU will bring their four-game winning streak back home into E.A. Diddle Arena as they host 2-1 North Dakota on Sunday, Nov 24.
Sports Reporter Peyton Reid can be reached at [email protected].
