SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of North Texas outscored the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team 27-12 in the fourth quarter to take the lead and come away with a road victory, 62-55, at the McDermott Center on Monday.

The Cardinals (3-8) led by 11 points with 9:15 left in the game, but the Mean Green (5-5) fought all the way back for the victory.  They went on a 12-0 run starting with 5:17 remaining in the game and they took their first lead of the half on a fast break layup by Terra Ellison with 2:49 to play and they held on for the victory.

The game started off slow with both teams struggling to find their shot in the first half.  UIW shot 33 percent while North Texas shot 27 percent for as the Cardinals took a 24-22 lead into halftime.  UNT led 11-8 after the first quarter thanks to a three-pointer at the buzzer by Kelsey Criner.  The Cardinals fell behind by six points in the second quarter before storming back to take the lead thanks to a steal and a layup by Melina Merritt followed by a three-pointer from Merritt.

The third quarter was the best for the Cardinals as they found their stroke and were able to outscore the Mean Green, 19-13.  UIW was sparked by Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) who scored nine points in the period.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Mean Green.  Candice Adams finally got going for the visitors and scored nine points in the final stanza.

North Texas (5-5) benefited from great play from Acheil Tac and Candice Adams, who combined for 32 points. Tac shot 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from the charity stripe for a total of 18 points and also added 10 rebounds for a double-double.  They shot 40.7 percent from the field, made 4-of-14 from three-point range and were 10-of-16 at the foul line.  Criner finished the game with nine points, 11 assists and three steals.  Adams added six rebounds and six assists.  They had 34 rebounds and committed 15 turnovers.

For the Cardinals, Williams led the way with 15 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.  Yvonne Maosa (Arlington/Mansfield HS) collected eight points and nine rebounds in the loss, while Merritt (Round Rock/Cedar Rodge HS) finished with eight points, four assists and four steals.  UIW shot 40.0 percent from the field, made 6-of-21 from three-point range and were 13-of-16 at the charity stripe.  They had 33 rebounds and committed 16 turnovers.

The difference in the game was the dominance in the paint from North Texas, who scored 32 points in the paint, while the Cardinals only scored 20.

The Cardinals will not play another game in 2015.  Their next game will be on January 2, when they host Sam Houston State for their Southland Conference opener.
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