Jackson guides Abilene Christian women past Howard Payne in season basketball opener

Zoe Jackson poured in a game-high 22 points to lead Abilene Christian past Division III Howard Payne 89-37 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Wednesday at Moody Coliseum.

Jackson, a sophomore transfer from Butler, hit 9-of-14 shots from the field and came up with four steals in her debut with the Wildcats. She played high school ball at Allen.

Bella Earle, a returning player, added 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while Addison Martin had 11 points in ACU’s season opener.

ACU coach Julie Goodenough notched her 200th victory with the Wildcats as she starts her 11th season with the program. She is 11 wins shy of her 500th career win as she begins her 29th year overall as a head coach.

Kiara Green led Howard Payne (0-2) with 10 points off the bench, and Bria Neal had nine.

ACU hit 36 of 86 shots, but just 5 of 40 from 3-point range. The Wildcats outscored HPU 62-16 in the paint and scored 25 points off 24 turnovers.

The Yellow Jackets, scored five points off eight ACU turnovers, hit 11 of 47 shots, including 2 of 13 from 3-point range.

The Yellow Jackets were coming off a 104-35 loss to Texas State on Monday and were playing their second straight Division I opponent.

Howard Payne plays American Southwest Conference rival Southwestern at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Brownwood.

ACU plays Rice at 2 p.m. Sunday in a non-conference game in Houston, before coming home to play Southwest, an NAIA team from Hobbs, N.M., at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Christian women cruise past Howard Payne in basketball