ACU 147, TWU 143 (4OT) - Box Score
ABILENE, Texas (January 5, 2009) – Texas Woman’s University senior forward
Renee Renz scored a Lone Star Conference record 63 points on Monday night but it wasn’t enough for the Pioneers as they lost 147-143 to the Abilene Christian University Wildcats in a four-overtime thriller at Moody Coliseum in Abilene.
Renz’s remarkable point total equaled the third-most scored in a single-game in NCAA Division II history and easily eclipsed the previous TWU single-game scoring record of 42 points set by Peggy Allen on Feb. 7, 1989, vs. Austin College.
Renz scored 18 points in the first half, 19 points in the second half, and 26 points in the four overtime periods. She converted 22 of her 36 field goal attempts in the game, including an outstanding four of seven from three-point range. She also connected on 15 of her 17 free throws.
“I was just doing everything I could to keep us in the game,” said Renz in a postgame interview. “I knew I was playing well, but I honestly had no idea that I was scoring that many points. We really wanted to beat this team (ACU) and I was giving it everything I had.”
TWU head coach Beth Jillson raved about Renz’s performance.
“Renee was amazing. She played almost the entire game (56 minutes) and just continued to find ways to score,” said Jillson. “To score 63 points in a single game is a tremendous accomplishment and I’m extremely proud of her.”
The Pioneers played exceptionally well in the opening 20 minutes of the contest and held a 48-36 lead at halftime. ACU regrouped at the break, and outscored TWU 14-2 to start the second half and forge a 50-50 tie.
“That was the turning point in the game,” explained Jillson. “We had a solid lead but we struggled defensively in the first part of the second half and let them get back in it.”
ACU missed potential game-winning shots at the end of regulation and the first overtime period. TWU junior forward
Megan Hashman tied the game at 118 with a shot in the paint in the final seconds of the second overtime. The Pioneers’
Jessica Hanna then hit a desperation turnaround jumper at the buzzer of the third overtime to force the fourth extra session.
The fourth overtime belonged to ACU as the Wildcats’ twin sister duo of Jamie and Jody Meyer scored four points apiece to help the home team eventually prevail.
Jamie Meyer finished as the Wildcats leading scorer in the win as she totaled an ACU school-record 49 points. ACU (8-4) also received standout performances from senior forward Kristee Davidson (28 points) and junior guard Kat Kundmuller (16 assists).
Guard
Tia Dixon was the other Pioneer star of the night. The sophomore from Mansfield recorded 23 points, 12 assists, and only one turnover in 44 minutes of action. Four other TWU players also reached double-figure points in the loss – Hashman (17), Hanna (14),
Jessica Bell (10), and
Casey Pool (11).
“This was a heartbreaker,” concluded Jillson. “I really hated to see either team have to lose this game. I can’t say enough good things about my team though, we gave it everything we had and unfortunately just ran out of gas at the end.”
The Pioneers (7-4) next game will be on Thursday, Jan. 8, when they host the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs at 7:00 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena.
NCAA and Lone Star Conference records set in Monday night’s TWU/ACU thriller:
NCAA
Team Game
Points by losing team (including overtimes) -- 143, Texas Woman's vs. Abilene Christian (147), Jan. 5, 2009 (4 OT)
Points, both teams -- 290, Abilene Christian (147), Texas Woman's (143), Jan. 5, 2009
Points in overtime periods -- 58, Abilene Christian vs. Texas Woman's, Jan. 5, 2009
Points in overtime periods (both teams) -- 112, Abilene Christian (58) vs. Texas Woman's (54), Jan. 5, 2009
LSC
Individual Game
Points -- 63, Renee Renz, Texas Woman's vs. ACU (Jan. 5, 2009)
FG made -- 22, Renee Renz, Texas Woman's vs. ACU; Jamie Meyer, ACU, vs. Texas Woman's (Jan. 5, 2009)
Team Game
Combined points -- 290, ACU (147) vs. Texas Woman's (143), Jan. 5, 2009
FG made -- 59, ACU vs. Texas Woman's, Jan. 5, 2009
FG attempts -- 112, ACU vs. Texas Woman's, Jan. 5, 2009
Assists -- 40, ACU vs. Texas Woman's, Jan. 5, 2009