The top team in the Lone Star Conference came into the Incarnate Word McDermott Center on Saturday afternoon, sporting a perfect 13-0 conference record and coming off a game in which they scored over 100 points in a victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville.

But, the UIW women gave the Tarleton State TexAnns all they could handle for 40 minutes, playing what their coaches called “one of the best games the team has played all season” and pushing the visitors to the limit.

Ultimately, however, TSU was able to rely on early success at the three-point line and survived multiple runs by the Cardinals, beating UIW 68-64.

“We did everything right, but get the 'W',” coach Angela Lawson said. “I think our team followed our game plan start to finish.”

“Everyone contributed today,” assistant coach Kate Henderson added.

Incarnate Word had a 21-point, 5-steal effort from sophomore Ifunanya Mora while junior Katy Cooke scored 12 points and dished out 4 assists as the only Cardinals in double-digits, but of the nine Incarnate Word players who saw time on the floor, all but two scored points.

On the other side of the court, Tarleton had 42 of their 68 points get scored by three players and hit 8-of-16 shots outside the arc (6-of-11 in the first half, only 2-of-7 in the second half).

Tarleton State led by as much as 12 points at 7:17 in the second half, but UIW was able to cut the TexAnns' lead to just two points, 48-46, in the second half.

Both teams shot well from the free throw line – TSU hitting 22-of-28 and UIW sinking 24-of-32 – and the rebounds were nearly even (34 for UIW and 36 for TSU).

The Cardinals will be back on the road this Wednesday for an LSC matchup against Midwestern State at 6 p.m. before returning to San Antonio next Saturday for a 2 p.m. game against Abilene Christian.