Women's Basketball 11/7/2023 9:54:00 AM Payne Moses

Familiar Foe, Home Test On Firestorm’s Horizon

Glendale, Ariz.- ACU Women's Basketball carries a 2-1 record into the third week of their 2023-24 season, a week featuring their first road game and another showdown with an NAIA nationally-ranked opponent. First up, the Firestorm will head to Prescott on Wednesday for a second meeting with Embry-Riddle (AZ) after winning the first 69-55. They then return home to play #6 Carroll College (MT) on Saturday afternoon to wrap up week three.

Game Details

Arizona Christian at Embry-Riddle (AZ) - Wednesday, November 8 at 5:30 PM
Arizona Christian vs #6 Carroll College (MT) - Saturday, November 11 at 4:00 PM

(Due to ACU hosting the GSAC Women's Soccer Tournament Final on Saturday at 1:00 PM, Carroll and ACU agreed to move their game from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.)

ERAU Activities Center - Prescott, AZ
ACU Events Center - Glendale, AZ

*All Times Listed Are Arizona Time

Tickets - https://acufirestorm.com/sports/2022/11/29/973_133142257298652889.aspx

Prices- General Admission ($10), Alumni/Military/Senior ($5), ACU Students (Free), 12 and under (Free)

Live Coverage

Video - https://www.eraueagles.com/links/crbys3, https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/
Live Stats - https://www.eraueagles.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/boxscores/20231108_kz2i.xml, https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary

Arizona Christian

Following two opening victories, the Firestorm lost a close one (56-51) to #15 Rocky Mountain College (MT) this past Friday. Alyssa Alvarez was responsible for 24 of ACU's 51 points in the contest, shooting 8-of-24 from the field and 6-of-13 from three-point range. It was a late three-pointer from Alvarez that gave the Firestorm a fighting chance, but it was not meant to be. A lack of help on the offensive end and a significant rebound disparity (53-31 in favor of RMC) ultimately kept a win out of reach.

ACU Key Players

Alyssa Alvarez - 23 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.0 APG
Halle Payne - 14.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.7 APG
Lauren Gunn - 12.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 APG
Emily Till - 5.7 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 1.3 APG
Kayla Clark - 5.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.6 APG

Series Notes

After a 69-55 win on October 28th, the Firestorm hold a 3-5 all-time record in their series with the Embry-Riddle (AZ) Eagles. In the very recent meeting, Alyssa Alvarez and Halle Payne shared the offensive load with 21 and 20 points respectively. Lauren Gunn followed with 13 points of her own and Emily Till recorded a monstrous 18 rebounds in the contest. ACU is 1-3 when playing at ERAU Activities Center.

The Firestorm are 0-2 in their all-time series with Carroll College (MT) dating back to the 2015-16 season. In the most recent meeting (November 18, 2016), ACU lost 70-63 to the Fighting Saints at a neutral site of Durango High School in the Las Vegas Shootout. Courtney Christmas and Makayla Enders both scored 11 points and three others contributed 10 points to the 63 total. The first meeting a year prior was another close call, ACU falling 51-46 at their old home, Fultz Memorial Gymnasium.

Coach Rusty Rogers' Thoughts

"As we head into week three of the 2023-24 season, we expect to see some different challenges," Coach Rogers said. "Playing on the road for the first time and against an opponent we have already competed against and then coming back home to take on the number six nationally-ranked NAIA team provides us with more opportunity to grow… Our defense needs to keep getting better and we need other people not named Alyssa Alvarez to take on some of the scoring load for us to flourish. Fortunately, our toughness cannot be questioned!"

Embry-Riddle (AZ)

The Embry-Riddle (AZ) Eagles (0-1) lost their season opener against Arizona Christian 69-55 at ACU Events Center. Micaela Hidalgo led the way for ERAU, posting 12 points on a perfect 6-for-6 performance from the field, five rebounds, and one assist. Aryana Gonzales and Zakiirah King each supplied the Eagles with eight points, Gonzales also accounting for four assists and four steals. Like ACU, the Eagles will play Carroll College (MT), their meeting coming on November 13th.

Carroll College (MT)

The Carroll College (MT) Fighting Saints (1-1) opened their season with a tough two-point loss (62-60) to #4 Indiana Wesleyan. They responded to a last-second disappointment with a 64-54 win over Whitworth University on October 30th. Through two games, Jamie Pickens is the points (39) and rebounds (25) leader for the Saints. Maddie Geritz follows Pickens' lead with 32 total points and 8 total rebounds. Carroll is an impressive 31-for-35 at the free throw line and is shooting 43.1% from the floor as a team.

Roll Storm!

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Players Mentioned

#20 Alyssa Alvarez: G; 5' 11"; Senior

#23 Kayla Clark: G; 5' 4"; Junior

#10 Lauren Gunn: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#21 Halle Payne: P; 5' 9"; Junior

#14 Emily Till: P; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#20 Alyssa Alvarez
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G

#23 Kayla Clark
: 5' 4"; Junior
: G

#10 Lauren Gunn
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#21 Halle Payne
: 5' 9"; Junior
: P

#14 Emily Till
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: P

Arizona Christian University

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Familiar Foe, Home Test On Firestorm’s Horizon

Players Mentioned

#20 Alyssa Alvarez

#23 Kayla Clark

#10 Lauren Gunn

#21 Halle Payne

#14 Emily Till

Players Mentioned

#20 Alyssa Alvarez

#23 Kayla Clark

#10 Lauren Gunn

#21 Halle Payne

#14 Emily Till