ABILENE, Texas — A shorthanded Utah Valley team dropped the second game of its Texas trip, 73-46, at Abilene Christian on Monday in Moody Coliseum. The Wolverines had just eight players in uniform and were without starters Eleyana Tafisi and Mae Afoa, who both played in Saturday's overtime win at Tarleton.
 
UVU (5-17, 2-9) was led in scoring by Saige Gibb's 12 points while Ally Criddle added 10 Kaylee Byon chipped in nine points. The Wildcats (11-11, 5-6) got a game-high 20 points from Addison Martin, on 10-for-12 from the field.
 
The Wildcats hit three of their first four shots to jump out to a quick 7-0 lead. Gibb got Utah Valley on the board with a reverse layup and Shay Fano scored to make it 7-4. ACU pushed the lead back to eight when Criddle knocked down a corner three, but six straight from the Wildcats made it 20-9 before Abby Conlee hit a baseline jumper to make it 20-11 after one.
 
After Conlee hit two free throws on the first possession of the second, Bella Earle hit back-to-back triples to give ACU a 26-13 lead. The Wildcats missed seven straight attempts from the field but kept the Wolverines at bay due to a 23-11 edge on the glass in the half, including nine offensive rebounds that led to 11 second-chance points. For the game, ACU outrebounded UVU 47-23 with 15 coming on the offensive end.
 
Abilene Christian connected on its first three attempts out of the break to score seven straight points to extend it to 42-20. Gibb, Criddle, and Byon all connected on 3-pointers over the final four minutes of the third, but ACU still led 55-33 after three.
 
ACU was 27-for-59 (45.8%) from the floor and attempted 32 3-pointers, making 11. UVU was 17-for-54 (31.5%) for the game.
 
The Wolverines return home this week to host UT Arlington on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Southern Utah on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the UCCU Center.