SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team dropped their season opener on Friday night at the McDermott Center, 74-66 against Texas Wesleyan University.

Injuries limited the Cardinals (0-1) to eight healthy players for the contest and they were missing three starters.  The Rams (5-2) grabbed the lead in the early going and held it for the majority of the game.  They led by as many as 10 points in the first half after a pair of free throws by Stacey Darnley with 7:32 left in the half.  The Cardinals pulled to within two points with 1:41 to play in the half before Katelynn Threats' layup gave the Rams at 39-35 lead at the break.

In the second half, the game remained close.  The Rams went up 49-42 with 12:25 remaining in the game, but a 7-0 run pulled the Cardinals into a tie after a three-pointer by Melina Merritt (Round Rock/Cedar Ridge HS) with 9:23 on the clock.  UIW would never take the lead in the second half and a late 11-4 run gave the Rams a 10-point lead with 1:06 to play and they held on for the win.

The Cardinals shot 33.9 percent from the field, made 6-of-25 from three-point range and were 18-of-25 at the foul line.  Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) scored 24 points and had two steals in 26 minutes of action.  Merritt added 14 points and a trio of three-pointers.  Yvonne Maosa (Mansfield/Mansfield HS) had seven points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

The Rams connected on 40.7 percent of their field goal attempts, went 4-of-10 from three-point range and were 26-of-35 at the foul line.  Stacey Darnley led the team with 24 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 8-of-10 free throw shooting while picking up three steals.  Onyesonam Nolisa had a double-double with 14 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and five steals.  Threats also had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Rams grabbed six more rebounds than the Cardinals and each team committed 21 turnovers.

The Cardinals are back in action on Monday at the University of Houston with the start scheduled for 7 p.m.
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