LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — Payton Hull scored 21 points to lead Abilene Christian to a 70-50 victory over Texas-Arlington in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at Orleans Arena. The Wildcats seized control early, building a 23-12 lead after the first quarter and maintaining a double-digit advantage throughout. Abilene Christian finished the game shooting 47.9% from the floor and made 17 of 22 free throws. Texas-Arlington struggled offensively, shooting 38% from the field and 9 of 19 from the foul line. Hull added three assists in 29 minutes for Abilene Christian, which improved to 23-9. Jazmyn Stone and Aimee Flippen each added 10 points for the Wildcats. Kendal Robinson and Alexsyah Goudeau each scored seven points for Texas-Arlington, which fell to 12-21. The Mavericks committed 18 turnovers.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Abilene Christian Wildcats used a dominant first quarter to set the tone and never looked back, defeating the Texas-Arlington Mavericks 70-50 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at Orleans Arena. The Wildcats, improving to 23-9, seized control immediately with a 23-point opening period, fueled by the hot hand of Payton Hull. The junior guard from Peaster, Texas, scored nine of her game-high 21 points in the first quarter, including a 3-pointer and a driving layup that helped build a double-digit lead the Mavericks could not overcome. Texas-Arlington, which fell to 12-21, managed just 12 points in the first and spent the rest of the game fighting an uphill battle against a disciplined Abilene Christian defense. The most important part of the game was the opening 10 minutes, where Abilene Christian established a decisive 23-12 lead. The Wildcats shot efficiently from the field and capitalized on early Maverick turnovers, creating a cushion that allowed them to manage the game’s tempo throughout. Texas-Arlington’s offensive struggles, particularly a 7-point third quarter, prevented any sustained comeback attempt. Hull’s 21-point performance led a balanced Wildcats attack. Jazmyn Stone added 10 points off the bench, while post player Aimee Flippen contributed 10 points and a block. Natalia Chavez orchestrated the offense with five assists. For the Mavericks, Kendal Robinson and Alexsyah Goudeau each scored seven points, with Robinson adding three assists. Statistically, the game was decided by shooting efficiency and ball security. Abilene Christian shot 47.9% from the field and 43.8% from 3-point range, while Texas-Arlington connected on just 38% of its field goals and 30% from deep. The Wildcats also held a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 17 of 22 attempts compared to the Mavericks’ 9-of-19 showing. Both teams were turnover-prone, with Abilene Christian committing 17 and Texas-Arlington giving the ball away 18 times, but the Wildcats’ superior shooting rendered those miscues less costly. Defensively, Abilene Christian was active, recording 13 steals and limiting Texas-Arlington to an offensive rating of 72.4 points per 100 possessions. The Mavericks managed only 10 assists on 19 made baskets, a sign of the offensive disruption caused by the Wildcats. The victory continues a strong season for Abilene Christian, which entered the game as a heavy favorite according to analytics projections. The Wildcats have now won three of their last four games. Texas-Arlington, which had won two straight entering Friday, saw its brief momentum halted. The teams had split two regular-season meetings, with Abilene Christian winning the most recent encounter just six days prior. A crowd of 786 at the neutral-site venue watched as Abilene Christian methodically extended its lead after the fast start. The Wildcats led 41-26 at halftime and 56-33 after three quarters before both teams scored in the teens in the final period. Texas-Arlington will look to rebound quickly, facing Tarleton State on Saturday, also in Las Vegas. Abilene Christian awaits its next opponent in postseason play.

Preview: Texas-Arlington Mavericks vs. Abilene Christian Wildcats LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Abilene Christian Wildcats, riding a dominant season, will face a familiar and recently vanquished foe when they meet the Texas-Arlington Mavericks in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at Orleans Arena. The Wildcats (22-9) enter as heavy favorites, having defeated the Mavericks (12-20) in all three meetings this season, including a decisive 72-57 victory in Arlington just six days ago on March 7. National Statistical’s ELO system projects Abilene Christian with a 78.3% probability to win. Abilene Christian is led by guard Payton Hull, a consistent playmaker who dished out seven assists in the most recent matchup. Hull has shown explosive scoring capability this season, including a 36-point performance against Tarleton State on Feb. 14. Texas-Arlington, however, arrives with momentum from a 70-65 road win at Southern Utah on Thursday. The Mavericks’ hopes will largely rest on the hot hand of Kira Reynolds. The guard erupted for 23 points in just 24 minutes in that victory, following a 21-point, five-assist, five-block effort in a win over Utah Tech on March 11. Reynolds was held to 16 points in the loss to Abilene Christian last week. The neutral-site contest in Las Vegas presents a new backdrop for the Western Athletic Conference rivals. The Wildcats have relied on a balanced attack; in the March 7 win, Erin Woodson (13 points) and Emma Troxell (13 points) joined Hull in double figures. For Texas-Arlington, reversing the season’s trend against Abilene Christian will require containing that balance and hoping Reynolds’ recent scoring surge continues. Jadyn Atchison, who added 13 points in Thursday’s win, provides a secondary offensive option. Tip-off is set for Friday, March 13, 2026. The Mavericks are scheduled to play at Tarleton State the following day.