BEAUMONT, TEXAS – Despite 24 points and nine rebounds from junior forward Yvonne Maosa (Mansfield/Mansfield HS), the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team was defeated by Southland Conference rival Lamar University on Saturday, 81-64.

It was the 12^th straight loss for UIW as they dropped to 5-22 on the season.  Conversely, Lamar improved to 16-12 overall with a 13-4 record in the conference after the win at the Montagne Center.

The first half was exciting and fast paced.  Lamar held a 29-27 lead with 6:13 left in the half after a three-pointer by Maosa capped a 12-4 run by UIW.  Lamar closed out the half by scoring 21 points in the final six minutes to take a 50-35 lead into halftime.  LU was able to push the lead into double digits after JaMeisha Edwards and Baileigh O'Dell hit back-to-back three-pointers.
In the second half, Lamar was able to keep Incarnate Word at arm's length never letting the visitors get closer than 10 points.

UIW did not have an answer for Edwards who scored 25 first half points and finished with 35 points and five assists overall.  She was 14-of-23 from the field and made 6-of-11 from three-point range.  As a team, Lamar shot 55.0 percent from the field, made 9-of-23 from three-point range and was 6-for-8 at the foul line.  Kiandra Bowers posted a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and four steals while O'Dell added 10 points and eight assists.

Incarnate Word shot 48.1 percent from the field, made 6-of-11 from three-point range and went 6-of-8 at the charity stripe.  Maosa was 10-of-17 from the field and had five offensive rebounds.  Haley Frias (Georgetown/Georgetown HS) scored 11 points off the bench and knocked down three three-pointers.  Jazmine Holman (Arlington/Arlington Bowie HS) added 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.  UIW had six more rebounds than Lamar, but committed a season high 31 turnovers that led to 38 points.

UIW closes out the season with two games at home this upcoming week.  They play Abilene Christian on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Houston Baptist on Saturday at 2 p.m.
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