SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team made 11 of their first 13 shots against Southland Conference rival Houston Baptist University on Saturday, but still lost 81-71 at the McDermott Center.

The Cardinals (5-24, 2-16) jumped out to a 10-2 lead and scored 24 points in the first eight minutes of the game, but the Huskies (12-17, 6-12) also shot the ball well to start the game.  After starting the game on fire, the Cardinals went cold going 6-of-24 to close out the half.  HBU took a 43-37 lead into halftime thanks to 22 points and seven rebounds on 9-of-10 shooting by Erin McGarrachan.

In the second half, the Huskies pushed their lead to 15 points before the Cardinals started to push back.  UIW closed on a 15-4 run and pulled to within 60-56 with 10:29 remaining on a jumper by Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS).  The Cardinals had five chances over the next three minutes to cut the lead to two points, but they missed three shots and committed two turnovers.

Houston Baptist's Tayler Jefferson hit two big three-pointers for the visitors that prevented the Cardinals from coming back.  The first came with 6:29 to play and then her three-pointer with 3:08 remaining stretched the lead to 11 points.

The Cardinals shot 42.6 percent from the field, but were 0-for-10 from three-point range.  They knocked down 13-of-15 from the foul line.  Shanise Brooks (Topeka, KS/Highland Park HS) led UIW with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 8-for-8 from the foul line.  Adams finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists while Jazmine Holman (Arlington/Arlington Bowie HS) had 13 points, four assists and three steals.  They committed only 12 turnovers and forced the Huskies into 16 turnovers.

The Huskies shot 54.9 percent from the field, made 5-of-9 from three-point range and they were 20-of-25 from the foul line.  McGarrachan finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.  Anna Strickland had a strong all-around game with 16 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and four steals.  Rachel Arthur and Jefferson each scored in double figures.  Jefferson and Heidi Sihvola each handed out six assists.  HBU pulled down four more rebounds than UIW.

The Cardinals have now completed their second full season in NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference.  They become eligible for the NCAA and conference tournaments in 2017-18.
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