Box Score DENTON, TEXAS – A strong defensive performance on the road gave the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team a 59-52 Lone Star Conference victory at Texas Woman's University. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (7-2, 3-0) improved to a perfect 3-0 in conference play and are currently riding a five game winning streak.  Earlier in the week the Cardinals appeared in the USA Today Coaches Poll among teams receiving votes.

The first half was a back and forth affair with four ties and a number of lead changes.  The Cardinals only shot 35.7 percent from the field in the first half, but got 12 points from Rose Whitehead (Grapevine/Grapevine HS) to send them into halftime trailing the Pioneers (3-7, 1-3) by just a point.

In the second half, Ashlyn Green (Irving/Irving HS) poured in 15 of her team high 20 points to lead the Cardinals.  She scored the final six points of the game for the team, including a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the foul line in the final 29 seconds to seal the win.

UIW started the second half on a 15-6 run to build up a 40-32 lead.  With 8:22 remaining in the game, they built up a 12-point lead after a layup by Green.  The Pioneers fought back and pulled to within six points with 4:12 remaining after a three-pointer by Barbara-Scott Kolb.  TWU closed to within five points on two occasions in the final two minutes, but could not get any closer.

The Cardinals shot just 38.6 percent from the field, but held the Pioneers to 27.8 percent from the floor.  UIW went 1-of-11 from the three-point line and were 14-of-25 at the foul line.  Green finished with 20 points and eight rebounds while making 8-of-10 from the foul line.  Whitehead finished with 16 points and five rebounds.  The team with finished 42 rebounds and turned the ball over 14 times.

The Pioneers made 3-of-12 from three-point range and were 19-of-22 at the foul line.  Rebekah Cluley led the way with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists while making all eight of her free throw attempts.  Rachel Schlosser finished with nine points and a game high 10 rebounds.  They had 38 rebounds and committed 16 turnovers.

The Cardinals outscored the Pioneers, 36-14 on the points in the paint.  They got 26 points off the bench while TWU only had nine points off the bench.

The Cardinals are back in action on January 2 at Texas A&M-Commerce.
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