As the school semester starts to wind down, collegiate student-athletes have to deal with final exams, papers and other end-of-the-year factors beyond having to continue to practice and put out an effort on the floor.

Up against visiting Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday night, the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team started out their Lone Star Conference matchup, in the words of their coach, “a little flat.”

“I don't think there was a single player on our team who didn't have at least one exam today,” coach Angela Lawson said. “We missed our usually shoot-around and even though the girls were focused during warm-ups, they just started the game a little flat. But I remember what it was like to have to study and take tests as well, so I was glad to see them get things back on-track.”

Despite the slow start, Incarnate Word would eventually go on to beat the Lions, 79-49, and improve their record to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in LSC play.

Lawson attributed her team's ability to fight through the rough first half to the team's ability to fight for rebounds when the shots weren't falling early on – the Cardinals out-rebounding TAMU-Commerce 50-to-24 – and also said that a great performance by the team's bench (30 points) was key in UIW's second conference win.

Incarnate Word's Ashlyn Green led all players with 19 points and had three assists and two steals. Rose Whitehead contributed 13 points and Chloe Wallace scored 11 points (and added 8 rebounds) to give
UIW a trio of double-digit scorers.

Katy Cooke, Ifunanya Mora and Jocelyn Jarmon each chipped in 9 points – with Jarmon grabbing 13 rebounds for a near double-double.

Incarnate Word will be on the road this Saturday at Tarleton State at 2 p.m. for their first road game in Lone Star Conference play.