It has been a mixed bag of emotions for ACU athletes during this “winter wonderweek” on campus.
Like all students, athletes have been out of school, but they also haven’t been able to compete on their respective fields and courts. Both basketball teams had their away game against Angelo State University pushed back from Tuesday to Thursday and then Saturday. Additionally, the home game that was supposed to be played on Saturday against the same Angelo State teams has been pushed back to Monday. This results in an odd scenario in which the Wildcats will play the Rams twice in 48 hours.
The first match-up of the two schools on Saturday went opposite of how the season has gone so far. The men’s squad finally won their first conference game of the season breaking a six-game losing streak. The 74-71 overtime win over the Rams was the first in over a month for the Wildcats. Zach Williams led the ‘Cats with 19 points in the game including five crucial points in the extra period. Junior Ben Warton added 11 while Preston Davis and Marcus Washington each had 10.
It was a different story for the women’s team. A 67-63 loss to rival Angelo State breaks a three-game winning streak, and drops ACU in a tie for third in the Lone Star Conference with Angelo. Monday’s rematch will be the biggest game of the season for both teams as the winner will have the upper hand to move on to the LSC postseason tournament.
Basketball players weren’t the only ones affected by the snow, however. The women’s tennis team originally was slated to play against Sam Houston this weekend in Huntsville. That match and one against Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches have been cancelled. Both matches would have seen the Wildcats playing a Division I opponent as a warm-up to their spring season.
The baseball team saw its season opener moved as well. Crutcher Scott Field was supposed to witness its first action of the season on Tuesday. Instead, the ‘Cats game against Incarnate Word will have to wait until March 1.
Head Coach Britt Bonneau was none too pleased with the ice out that has brought campus to a halt.
“Our guys are getting very anxious,” Bonneau said. “They were bummed when we had to move our games, and rightfully so. No one likes being cooped up.”
