It was the sixth win in eight games for the Javelinas and earned them their first Lone Star Conference South Division road sweep since beating Tarleton State and Texas Woman’s University in February of 2002.
The win improved Texas A&M-Kingsville to 8-10 overall and 3-2 in the LSC South. The loss dropped the Wildcats to 12-8 overall and 3-2 in the league and was the first home loss in 10 home games this season.
Texas A&M-Kingsville had lost 23 consecutive road games heading into late December, but have how won 3 of their last 5 away from Kingsville.
All five Javelina starters scored in double figures with Lana Toki leading the way with 22 points and seven rebounds. Angela Trotter posted her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, Kayla Naylor had 13 points, 10 assists and hit all four of her shots from the field and Jasmine June hit all five of her shots from the field and scored 10 points.
The Javelinas shot just under 54 percent while holding ACU to only 33 percent. The Wildcats made just 7 of 24 3-point field goals as the Javelinas employed a 1-3-1 zone defense for all but three possessions.
“Our kids are pretty fired up,” said Javelina head coach Dina Kangas. “It’s a tough roadtrip to make. They are playing with a little chip on their shoulder. Everybody that came in off our bench did a great job. We didn’t feel we could match-up man to man, so we went to the zone. Our kids really believe in what we are telling them and that makes it fun to go to work everyday and coach these kids.”
The Javelinas led 37-25 at the half, but ACU cut the lead to 7, 56-49 with 6:16 remaining.
The Javelinas then went on a game-clinching 9-0 run with June scoring 6 of the 9 points to make it 65-49 with 3:52 left.
ACU got no closer than 14 the rest of the way as Trotter nailed a 3-point basket to extended her double-figure scoring streak to 9 with 36 seconds left in the game.
ACU scored the first four points of the game, but the Javelinas held the Wildcats scoreless over the next 5:21, outscoring them 13-0 to grab a 13-4 lead.
The lead grew to 15, 25-10 when Toki and Bullinger hit back-to-back 3-point baskets to give the Javelinas a 31-10 lead with 5:46 left in the half.
The was 20 when Dyana Bullinger scored on a lay-up with 2:41 left in the half to give the Javelinas a 37-17 advantage.
ACU closed the half on an 8-0 run to close the gap to 37-25 at the intermission.
The Javelinas 1-3-1 halfcourt zone defense worked wonders as ACU made just 2-of-13 3-point shot attempts in the first half and only 31 percent of their shots overall.
The Javelina offense was in high gear, converting on 55 percent of their first half shots while out-rebounding the much taller Wildcats 23-18.
Toki had 10 first half points while Bullinger added 9 with Kayla and Sandra Maldonado each scoring 6.
The Javelinas return to action Thursday at home against nationally ranked West Texas A&M.
