Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Arizona Christian University

OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE OF ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
WBB Preview - 1/11 and 1/13

Women's Basketball Payne Moses

Conference Play Comes Home For Firestorm

Glendale, Ariz.- ACU finds itself behind the eight-ball heading into the second week of GSAC play, going 0-2 in Northern California. The Firestorm look to right the ship at home with Life Pacific and RV The Master's coming into town for games on Thursday and Saturday.

Now past the midpoint of the season, ACU averages the fourth-most points per game (74.9) and has the second-best free throw percentage in the GSAC (74.7). Alyssa Alvarez ranks second in GSAC scoring (18.5 PPG), Emily Till ranks second in rebounding (10.4 RPG) and Halle Payne remains fifth in field goal percentage (51.8). 

Game Details

Arizona Christian vs. Life Pacific - Thursday, January 11 at 5:30 PM
Arizona Christian vs. RV The Master's - Saturday, January 13 at 12:00 PM

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.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian 
Live Stats - https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary 

Arizona Christian

The Lady Firestorm demonstrated what it means to have a short memory, as they battled Jessup till the final whistle in a 88-83 overtime defeat. Less than 48 hours removed from a season-worst 43 points, ACU fought valiantly and nearly erased a 14-point deficit in their second GSAC game of 2023-24. 

Alyssa Alvarez set the program's single-game scoring record (previous record was 39 by Courtney Christmas on January 31, 2019) with 46 points in the contest. She accomplished this feat with 14-of-21 shooting, including 7-of-12 from three-point range and 11-of-13 from the charity stripe. Besides the above record, Alvarez tied the second-most field goals made in a single game (14).

Halle Payne contributed 13 points and a resurgent Lauren Gunn notched 12 of her own after missing six regular season match-ups. Though her double-double streak ended at four, Emily Till registered double-digit rebounds (12) for the fifth straight game and 10th game overall this season.

ACU Key Players

Alyssa Alvarez - 18.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.6 APG
Lauren Gunn - 17.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.7 APG
Halle Payne - 13.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.5 APG
Emily Till - 8.0 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.8 APG
Kayla Clark - 3.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.1 APG

Series Notes

The Firestorm are a perfect 13-0 in their all-time series with the Life Pacific Warriors, which dates back to the 2005-06 season. ACU has won by an average of 38.5 points (game on January 6, 2022 was decided by forfeit) with the smallest margin being 48-42 and the largest being 109-45. In the most recent meeting, the Firestorm won 77-57 at ACU Events Center on February 4, 2023. Six players scored double-digit points (Olivia Childress recorded a 10 point, 10 rebound double-double) in a game ACU never trailed.

In 25 all-time meetings, the Firestorm are 8-17 against The Master's Mustangs in a series that dates back to the 2010-11 season. There is a stark contrast between home and away outings, as ACU is 6-5 in Glendale but 2-11 in Santa Clarita. After the Mustangs won 10 of the first 12, the series has been largely back-and-forth at 6-7 in favor of TMU. In the most recent contest, the Firestorm won 63-58 in come-behind fashion at ACU Events Center. Alyssa Alvarez, Halle Payne and Lauren Gunn helped the team outscore the Mustangs 12-3 to close out the game.

Coach Rusty Rogers' Thoughts

"As we enter week two of the GSAC schedule, it is important for us to get ourselves back into playoff positioning," Coach Rogers said. "Defending our home court has always been a source of pride for us and now that we are two games behind the leaders in the standings, it makes it doubly important. We are slowly getting back to full health, and hopefully that will contribute to more consistent play throughout the course of our games."
 
Life Pacific

The Life Pacific University Warriors (9-5) have lost three straight games, including their opening two GSAC matchups. In their most recent game on January 6th, LPU squandered a 35-30 halftime lead and ultimately lost to Hope International 70-61 at Mehl Court. Faith Schwantner and Kyori Lloyd posted 19 and 16 points respectively, shooting a combined 6-of-14 from behind the three-point line. The Warriors give up the third-fewest points in the GSAC (62.1 PPG). Lloyd leads LPU in scoring (17.0 PPG) and rebounding (9.1 RPG) and Schwantner heads the assist category (4.4 APG).

The Master's

The Master's University Mustangs (13-2) split their opening two GSAC games this past weekend, defeating Life Pacific 76-53 and being narrowly defeated 65-64 by #10 Vanguard. Trailing Vanguard by 15 with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs stormed back and Nicole Chuang had a drive to the basket denied by VU's Melissa Akulla with three seconds remaining to seal a dramatic loss. Chuang and Kelly Lotz recorded 18 and 16 points respectively in a game TMU shot 50% (24-48). The Master's is first in offensive-defensive margin in the GSAC (77.0 PPG, 54.5 PAPG). Marin Lenz leads TMU in scoring (16.3 PPG) and steals (39), Madeline Cooke heads the rebound category (9.9 RPG) and Lexi Hernandez sits atop the assist ladder (2.6 APG).
 

Roll Storm!
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Alyssa Alvarez

#20 Alyssa Alvarez

G
5' 11"
Senior
Kayla Clark

#23 Kayla Clark

G
5' 4"
Junior
Lauren Gunn

#10 Lauren Gunn

G
5' 7"
Sophomore
Halle Payne

#21 Halle Payne

P
5' 9"
Junior
Emily Till

#14 Emily Till

P
6' 0"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Alyssa Alvarez

#20 Alyssa Alvarez

5' 11"
Senior
G
Kayla Clark

#23 Kayla Clark

5' 4"
Junior
G
Lauren Gunn

#10 Lauren Gunn

5' 7"
Sophomore
G
Halle Payne

#21 Halle Payne

5' 9"
Junior
P
Emily Till

#14 Emily Till

6' 0"
Sophomore
P