The ACU women’s basketball team take on Southeastern Louisiana University on the road on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m. The 6-7 conference and 14-10 overall Wildcats hold a two and a half game lead over the Lions in the Southland conference.
ACU has won its last three games, while SELU has lost its last four conference matchups. In their last game against each other, ACU edged Southeastern, 75-74, in Moody Coliseum just two short weeks ago.
“They’re a very good team with the ability to score from the inside and the outside,” head coach Julie Goodenough said. “I’m sure they’ve been thinking about that last game and maybe thinking they let one slip. So we have to be ready to bring a strong defensive pressure especially playing in their gym.”
Southeastern Louisiana is led by senior point guard Elizabeth Styles. Styles, who leads the entire Southland conference in assists with 6.2 assists per game, managed to score 10 points and recorded six assists against the Wildcats in their last meet-up.
Forward Nanna Pool is another Lion that the Wildcats will need to prepare for on Saturday. Pool has caused opponents trouble on both sides of the ball this season as an offensive and defensive force. The six-foot-one-inch Pool is one of the Southland’s best in multiple categories, from her 11.3 points a game, to being fifth in the conference with 8.3 rebounds per game and seventh in the conference with 1.2 blocks a game.
The last time this team met, the Wildcats held Pool to just eight points and four rebounds in Moody. Home field advantage and a desire for revenge after a close loss will require the ‘Cats to be prepared for what Pool will bring to the court.
The last impact player that needs to be addressed for SELU is senior guard Peaches Anderson. Anderson, who has come on strong as of late for the Lions scored 11 points for SELU against the Wildcats, is seventh in the conference in three-point field goal percentage, just .031 better than ACU’s Whitney West, who is currently at the eight spot.
Despite the talented lineup that SELU will put out on the court against ACU, the Wildcats look to be able to handle a 3-9 SELU team that can’t seem to finish close games in such a difficult Southland conference.
ACU sophomores Sydney Shelstead, and Lizzy and Suzzy Dimba, who all combined for 33 points and 49 rebounds against the Lions previously, will need to be at their best, but have all been consistent as of late, and look to be that way in Hammond on Saturday.
