NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team was engaged in a close ball game at Northwestern State on Saturday before the Lady Demons pulled away late in the game at Prather Coliseum.  Northwestern State won 73-51 to improve to 4-0 in Southland Conference play.

The Cardinals (4-10, 1-2) gave the Lady Demons (9-6, 4-0) all they could handle for the first 27 minutes of the game, but went cold from the field down the stretch.  UIW shot 48.1 percent from the field in the first half, but made only 6-of-26 shots in the second half.

The Lady Demons led by as many 10 points in the first half, but the Cardinals were able to slice into the lead before halftime with a 9-3 run over the final four minutes of the half capped by a Jazmine Holman (Arlington/Arlington Bowie HS) three-pointer at the buzzer.  The UIW defense continued to shut down the NSU offense over the first few minutes of the second half and pulled to within 40-39 on a jumper by Shanise Brooks (Topeka, KS/Highland Park HS) with 15:29 remaining in the game.

The basket by Brooks would be one of the few for UIW in the second half.  Over the next 11 minutes they only would make one bucket and the Lady Demon lead would grow from one point to 16 points during that span.

The Cardinals finished the game shooting 35.8 percent from the field, made 4-of-11 from three-point range and were 9-of-17 at the foul line.  Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) led the team with 13 points while Holman finished with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting before fouling out.  Breanna Birmingham (Battle Creek, MI/Harper Creek HS) led the team with 10 rebounds.  UIW had 11 more rebounds than NSU, but committed 10 more turnovers.

The Lady Demons shot 46.2 percent from the field, made 4-of-12 from three-point range and were 21-of-25 at the charity stripe.  Keisha Lee and Janelle Perez each scored over 20 points.  Lee had 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting and she was a perfect 6-of-6 at the foul line.  Perez had 21 points and four assists on 7-of-11 shooting.  Chelsea Rogers pulled down 10 rebounds for the team.

The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday at home against Southeastern Louisiana with the tip scheduled for 2 p.m.
####
pr15014smm