SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word forced 31 turnovers and held visiting Sul Ross State University to 30.2 percent shooting from the field in their 54-35 win on Thursday night at the McDermott Center.

The Cardinals (2-1) held the visiting Lobos (1-2) scoreless for a span of 11:14 during the first half covering the final 4:46 of the first quarter and the first 6:28 of the second quarter.  UIW turned a 7-6 lead into a 23-6 advantage thanks to the 16-0 run.  They took a 29-13 into halftime.

The Lobos cut the Cardinals lead to 12 points with 5:17 remaining in the game.  UIW responded with an 11-0 run over the next 3:31 to put the game away.  Jordan Franks (Norman, OK/Norman HS) scored the first two baskets of the run and finished with eight points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

The Cardinals shot 37.9 percent from the field, made 3-of-23 from three-point range and were 7-of-18 from the foul line.  Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) led the team with 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.  Celia Garcia Paunero (Valladolid, Spain/Otero JC) had nine points and grabbed seven rebounds while Melina Merritt (Round Rock/Cedar Ridge HS) had six steals.  UIW was outrebounded 20-15 in the first half, but finished the game with seven more rebounds than the Lobos.

Sul Ross State shot 30.2 percent from the field, made 2-of-11 three-point attempts and went 7-for-8 at the foul line.  Kenya Miles led the team with 10 points, eight rebounds and five steals off the bench.  SRSU only shot 20.8 percent in the first half, but made 42.1 percent of their shots in the second half.

The Cardinals are back in action on Monday at 6 p.m. against Howard Payne University at home.
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