Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – A 21-4 run early in the second half turned a tie ball game into a blowout victory for the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team on Wednesday night at home against Our Lady of the Lake.  The Cardinals improved to 5-0 on the season with the 99-73 win at the McDermott Center.

UIW and the Saints (3-1) played an even first half and went into the halftime break tied at 41-41.  The score remained tied at 47-47 when the Cardinals unleashed their run that began with a Natalie Hessong (Corpus Christi/King HS) three-pointer and finished with a layup by Rose Whitehead (Grapevine/Grapevine HS).  When the dust settled UIW led 68-51 with 10:30 minutes to play.  They continued to extend the lead over the final 10 minutes to finish with a 26-point margin.

The Cardinals used rebounding and free throws to win their first four games of the year and the fifth was no different.  They outscored the Saints, 34-16 at the foul line and grabbed 15 more rebounds.  UIW had three players grab at least 10 boards in the game and had five players score in double figures. 

Under first year head coach Kate Henderson the Cardinals have gotten off to the best start in school history with five straight wins to open the year.  Last year, the Cardinals lost a 70-69 game to the Saints.

UIW finished the game shooting 46.7 percent from the field, made 9-of-16 from three-point range and went 34-of-44 from the foul line.  Hessong, a freshman, went 8-of-13 from three-point range finishing with a game-high 24 points.  She tied the school record for three-pointers made in a game that was held by Cinnamon Kava who made eight at Harding on December 18, 2008.

The Cardinals had four other players score in double figures.  Whitehead posted her first double-double of the season with 21 points and 14 rebounds while going 9-of-11 from the foul line in only 18 minutes of play.  Ify and Kosy Mora (Grand Prairie/Arlington Bowie HS) each had excellent games.  Ify had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists and made 10-of-11 from the free throw line.  Kosy added 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while making 6-of-7 from the field.

The Saints shot 38.7 percent from the field, made 9-of-26 from three-point range and were 16-of-24 at the foul line.  Nashae Owens led the team with 21 points and made 4-of-5 from three-point land.  Ornela Bacchini and Chelsea Solis each scored 12 points.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at Wiley College at 1 p.m.
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