SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's and men's basketball teams begin a new era on Thursday night when both squads host Central Arkansas in the first Southland Conference home game of the year.  The women tip off at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by the men at approximately 7:30 p.m. at the McDermott Center.

Central Arkansas is the first ever NCAA Division I opponent to play the Cardinals at home in basketball.  Fans are encouraged to wear white UIW shirts as part of the "White Out Night" promotion at the games.  Prior to the women's game, San Antonio Silver Stars player Danielle Robinson will toss the ceremonial jump ball.

The UIW women are 7-7 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.  Senior Rose Whitehead (Grapevine/Grapevine HS) leads the team with 14.9 points per game and pulls down 5.7 rebounds per game.  Ifunanya Mora (Grand Prairie/Arlington Bowie HS) is scoring 11.0 points per game and leads the team with 7.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game.  The team is holding opponents to 65.4 points per game and is 3-0 at home.

The Sugar Bears (8-6, 2-1) had a three-game win streak snapped on Saturday when they lost at Oral Roberts by 10 points.  Courtney Duever is the top player on the team with 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.  Maggie Proffitt is a three-point threat having made 31 on the season and she makes 40.3 percent of her long-range attempts.  They are strong on the boards and are holding opponents to under 60 points per game.

The UIW men enter the game with a 13-2 record and 1-1 mark in the conference.  They have won all eight home games this year and have one of the top offenses and defense in the Southland Conference.  Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) and Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) provide the team with a potent 1-2 scoring punch.  Hittle is averaging 18.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 58.0 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from three-point range.  Livingston contributes in all facets of the game with 18.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.

The Bears (4-10, 1-2) and Cardinals have one common opponent this year with both teams losing on the road at North Texas.  LaQuentin Miles has played the team's last six games and is averaging 23.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.  DeShone McClure is the team's second leading scorer with 15.3 points per game.  Jalen Jackson chips in with 12.9 points per game and he has made 22-of-44 three-point attempts.  They are averaging 76.6 points per game as a team.
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