The ACU women’s basketball team is home for another Southland Conference match-up, this time against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The 11th place Wildcats will look to end their two-game slide over the 12th place Islanders.
The ‘Cats have lost four of their last five, while Corpus Christi has dropped six of their last eight. Both teams need a win to remain competitive in the Southland.
Head coach Goodenough and her team have lost games by slim margins. The parity between teams at the Div. I. level is thin, and ACU learned the hard way.
“I think our team is really starting to embrace the fact that one or two possessions win or lose a ballgame,” Goodenough said after a close loss last week.
Freshman Jessica Elkins said, “Every possession matters, especially when you get to the end of a close game.”
Regardless, this team is still young and talented.
“As we continue to experience wins and losses together as a team, I think it just helps us mature and grow our chemistry,” Goodenough said. “I like where we are right now.”
The ‘Cats have done a good job all year of following up an emotional loss with an equally emotional win. Two weeks ago, ACU lost to Lamar by a single bucket, but rebounded with a statement win on national television over Sam Houston State two nights later. The ‘Cats will need to channel their disappointment from last week into the game against Corpus Christi.
The Islanders are led by senior Jasmine Shaw and freshman Brittnay Mbamalu. While their team is 10 players deep, these are the only two who average in the double figures for scoring. Shaw is their primary scorer and should be a good match-up for Wildcat Suzzy Dimba. Mbamalu likes to work down low, but she will have her hands full with Suzzy’s twin, Lizzy Dimba.
With the twins shutting down the Islander scoring attack, look for Senior Renata Marquez to have a break-out game following recent foul troubles. Her 13.3 points per game has led the Wildcats in scoring this season. A loud Moody Coliseum and a pinked-out crowd will only add to the Wildcat advantage.
