SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Sam Houston State University outscored the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team 41-29 in the second half to hand the Cardinals a 65-60 home loss in their first Southland Conference game of the season Saturday at the McDermott Center.

The first half started slowly for both teams as they struggled to find their shot. The Cardinals (3-9, 0-1) did not score their first points until the six minute mark in the first quarter.  Once the second quarter arrived, UIW found its groove.  They ended up shooting 43 percent from the field and took a 31-24 lead into halftime.  UIW built up its lead behind the play of seniors Yvonne Maosa (Arlington/Mansfield HS) and Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) who combined for 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor.

The Bearkats (5-6, 1-0) surged in the third quarter as they went on a 13-0 run to take a 37-35 lead on a layup by Laurynn McGowen.  Haley Frias (Georgetown/Georgetown HS) stopped the run with her first three-pointer of the game to give the Cardinals a 38-37 lead.  Then, two free-throws and a layup by Shernise Robertson gave the Bearkats a 41-38 lead to finish the quarter. They outscored the home team 17-7 in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) almost single-handedly kept the Cardinals in the game.  She scored the Cardinals first seven points of the quarter and scored all of her 13 points in the final 10 minutes.  The Bearkats' Angela Beadle made a layup with 4:37 remaining in the game to give Sam Houston a 56-47 lead which looked like it would be enough for the win.  The Cardinals made a late comeback and got the game to within three points, 60-57, after a clutch three-pointer from Celia Garcia Paunero (Valladolid, Spain/Otero JC) and two free throws from Williams.

The Cardinals began to send the Bearkats to the foul line to stop the clock and managed to make it 62-60 with 21 seconds left, but that would be it. Sam Houston made important free throws to end the game and take the 65-60 conference win on the road.

Adams led UIW with 15 points while Maosa and Williams each had 13 points.  The Cardinals shot 37.7 percent from the field, made 6-of-20 from three-point range and were 14-of-17 at the foul line.  Williams went 9-for-9 at the foul line and dished out five assists.  Quincy Baker (Houston/Klein HS) led the team with six rebounds.  UIW and Sam Houston each had 14 turnovers in the game while the Bearkats had seven more rebounds.

As a team, Sam Houston shot 45 percent from the field, made 3-of-14 from long range and were 14-of-21 at the foul line.  They outscored UIW 34-18 in the paint which made a huge difference in the game.  Beadle finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Robertson added 24 points, six steals and three assists.

The Cardinals' next game will be a road conference game at New Orleans, January 7, at 7:00 p.m.
####
pr16003smm