HAMMOND, La. – A 27-11 first-quarter deficit was too much for the Southeastern Louisiana women's basketball team to overcome in an 82-57 loss to defending Southland Conference regular season champion Abilene Christian in the league opener for both teams Saturday afternoon in the University Center.
 
The Lady Lions (2-10, 0-1 Southland) lost for the seventh straight time and fell to ACU (7-6, 1-0 Southland) for the sixth straight meeting. The game was won down low, as the Wildcats finished with a 48-24 rebounding advantage and outscored SLU, 42-16, in the paint.
 
Southeastern was led by freshman guard Charliee Dugas, as the Rayne, Louisiana native was the lone Lady Lion in double figures, finishing with 12 points. Junior guard Taylin Underwood and sophomore guard Jaclyn Scholvin each had nine points, while freshman guard Taz Stinson and junior guard Bre Warren chipped in with eight points apiece.
 
Stinson also led the Lady Lions with seven rebounds. Scholvin dished out a season-high five assists to pace SLU.
 
The ACU All-Southland Conference senior frontcourt trio of Sydney Shelstead, Suzzy Dimba and Lizzy Dimba combined for 58 points and 29 rebounds to lead the Wildcats.
Shelstead tied a school record with 15 free throw attempts on the way to a game-high 26 points to go with nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
Suzzy Dimba added 19 points for Abilene Christian, while Lizzy Dimba posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Breanna Wright led the Wildcats with five assists.
 
ACU jumped out to a 15-3 lead to open the game. A three-pointer by Scholvin briefly cut the Wildcat lead to single digits, but ACU would stretch the opening quarter lead to as many as 18 on the way to a 27-11 first quarter lead.
 
The second quarter was Southeastern's chance to get back into it, as the Lady Lions held ACU to just one made field goal in the quarter. However, ACU was 10-for-14 from the free throw line and stretched its halftime lead to 39-21.
 
Any chance of a Lady Lion rally was ended early in the third quarter. The Wildcats opened the second half with an 11-1 run to extend their advantage to 50-22 with 6:47 left in the third quarter. Southeastern would get no closer than 16 the rest of the way.
 
Saturday's game was the first of two at home for the Lady Lions to open up Southland Conference play. On Monday, the Lady Lions welcome Incarnate Word for a 12 p.m. league contest. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app. LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream of Monday's game at www.LionSports.net/watch.
 
Sophomore forward Baylie Stears will be Monday's Spotlight Player of the Game. The first 150 fans will receive a trading card featuring the Walker, Louisiana native courtesy of PRIDE.