Espanola, N.M. - Six players scored 11 or more points, and Arizona Christian University drained 12 three-point field goals and outrebounded its opponent 64-50, as the Firestorm opened the 2012-13 season with a 90-85 collegiate women's basketball victory over University of St. Thomas (0-1) from Houston, Texas, Friday, November 2, at the Santa Claran Classic hosted by Northern New Mexico College in Espanola, New Mexico. 

The Firestorm, led by second-year head coach Jerry Conner, play University of the Southwest (N.M.), Saturday, November 3, at 2 p.m. Arizona time. 

Sophomore forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) led ACU with 24 points, making 11 of her 15 shots, one three-pointer, four rebounds and three steals. Playing in her home state, senior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M./Rehoboth Christian School) finished with 11 points, 3 three-pointers, a team-high nine rebounds, two assists and one steal, and junior guard Jubilee Sutherland (Glennallen, Alaska/Glennallen H.S./Eastern Wyoming College) added 12 points, 3 three-pointers, six rebounds, two assists and one steal in her ACU debut. 

Senior guard Paula Clendaniel (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega H.S./York College (Neb.) made her ACU debut with 10 points, one three-pointer, eight rebounds, and a team-high six assists, and sophomore forward Jamie Heath (Phoenix, Ariz./Thunderbird H.S.) contributed 10 points and 3 three-pointers and three assists. Also in her ACU debut, freshman guard Gabby Evans (Phoenix, Ariz./Arcadia H.S.) scored 10 points, making 5 of 6 free throws, and added five rebounds, four assists and a team-high five steals. Sophomore forward Stephanie Brimhall (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) had six points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal. 

The Firestorm led 39-35 at halftime, despite making just 13 of their 40 shots (.325). ACU made five three-pointers in the first half, while St. Thomas made just one, and shot .302 (13-43) from 

the field. ACU warmed up to shoot .455 in the second half (20-44) with seven more three- pointers, while St. Thomas shot .439 (18-41) in the second half and missed all 10 of its three- point attempts. 

For the game, ACU made 33 of 84 shots (.393), 12 of 41 three-pointers (.293) and 12 of 19 free throws (.632), outrebounded St. Thomas, 64-50, including 22 offensive rebounds, and stole the ball from the Celts 12 times. ACU survived 26 turnovers. Meanwhile, St. Thomas made 31 of 84 shots (.369), just one of 19 from three-point range (.053), and 22 of 32 free throws (.688), and committed 19 turnovers and stole the ball nine times from ACU.