EDINBURG, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team lost 60-47 on the road to UT Rio Grande Valley at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on Thursday night.

The Cardinals (3-7) only had seven healthy players for the game, but they kept it close against the Vaqueros (6-6).  UTRGV jumped out to an early 14-point lead thanks to an 11-0 run, but UIW bounced back in the second quarter.  They closed to within six points after a pair of jumpers by Quincy Baker (Houston/Klein HS) with 2:45 to play in the half.  The Cardinals went into the break trailing, 32-25.

In the third quarter, the Cardinals were still trailing by just eight points midway through the period.  The Vaqueros were able to push their lead to 16 points by the end of the quarter thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Bernesha Peters and another one from Shawnte' Goff.  UTRGV was able to maintain their lead in the fourth quarter and did not allow the Cardinals to get closer than 13 points.

The Cardinals shot 34.8 percent from the field, made 5-of-13 from three-point range and were 10-of-13 from the foul line.  Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) led the team with 15 points and grabbed six rebounds.  Melina Merritt (Round Rock/Cedar Ridge HS) filled the stat sheet with nine points, six assists and five rebounds while Yvonne Maosa (Arlington/Mansfield HS) grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench.  UIW committed 20 turnovers while UTRGV only committed nine leading the Vaqueros to outscore the Cardinals, 18-7 on points off turnovers.

The Vaqueros shot 32.8 percent from the field, made 10-of-30 from three-point range and were 6-of-8 from the foul line.  Goff had 16 points, six assists and five rebounds while Rickell Preston posted a double-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and five steals.  Peters added 15 points on five three-pointers.  They had three more rebounds than the Cardinals, including 18 on the offensive end.

The Cardinals close out their pre-Christmas schedule on Monday at 2 p.m. at home against North Texas.
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