LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – After snapping a 10-game losing streak on Saturday, the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team has started a winning streak after knocking off Southland Conference rival McNeese State University on Wednesday night, 68-55 for a second straight road victory.

The Cardinals (5-11, 2-3) played excellent defense and rode the 1-2 scoring punch of Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) and Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) to the win and handed the Cowgirls (11-7, 3-3) their first home loss of the season.  The duo combined for 49 of the team's 68 points with Williams being the driving force both on offense and defense.  She repeatedly attacked the Cowgirls with drives to the basket and ended up attempting 17 free throws.  In addition, she had a career high 10 rebounds, nine defensive, and four steals to lead the defense.

UIW held a slim halftime lead at 31-28, but a strong third quarter put them in position to win.  They outscored the Cowgirls, 16-8 in the period, including an 8-2 run in the final two minutes that included three-pointers from both Adams and Williams.

In the fourth quarter, McNeese State pulled to within 52-46 after a three-pointer by Allison Baggett with 5:14 to play.  Later, Jayln Johnson converted a conventional three-point play to make it 54-49 in favor of the Cardinals.  Adams kept McNeese at arm's length by scoring UIW's next six points and then Williams iced the game at the foul line by making 8-of-9 in the final 1:24 of the game.

The Cardinals shot 38.2 percent from the field, made 6-of-17 from three-point range and were 20-of-28 at the charity stripe.  Adams led the team with 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the foul line.  Williams was only 5-of-17 from the floor, but went 13-of-17 from the foul line to finish with 24 points.  Yvonne Maosa (Arlington/Mansfield HS) chipped in with eight rebounds.  McNeese State had seven more rebounds than UIW, but committed seven more turnovers.

The Cowgirls shot 35.0 percent from the field, made 5-of-20 from three-point range and were 8-of-16 at the foul line.  Baggett led the team with 20 points while Johnson added 11 before fouling out in just 22 minutes of action.  Frederica Haywood and Cynthia Rivas each tallied 10 rebounds.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they take on first place Abilene Christian University at the McDermott Convocation Center.
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