SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Northwestern State outscored the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team 20-11 in the fourth quarter to win their third Southland Conference game, 53-48, Saturday at the McDermott Center.

The Cardinals (3-11, 0-3) led for over 24 minutes in the game, but the Demons (9-6, 3-1) erased a UIW 4-point lead in the fourth quarter with a pair of free-throws from Beatrice Attura and a layup from Cheyenne Brown with 6:11 left in the game. The Cardinals regained the lead on a three-pointer by Melina Merritt (Round Rock/Cedar Ridge HS), and just a few possessions later, Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) knocked down another three-pointer to give UIW a 43-40 lead with 4:56 to go. After that shot, the Demons would go on a 13-5 run to end the game and grab the conference road win.

It was a close contest that saw 10 lead changes and eight ties, but at the end of the day, a few mental mistakes by the Cardinals cost them. Merritt drained a three to cut the deficit to one, 49-48, but the Demons made the decisive free throws to close it out.

As a team, the Cardinals shot 41.9 percent from the field and 33.3 from beyond the arc.  They were 1-for-7 in the first half, but found their groove in the second half and made 5-of-11 from long range.  

The Demons shot 34.6 percent from the field and were only 1-for-14 from the three-point line. They outscored UIW, 26-16 in the paint and collected 15 offensive rebounds that cost the Cardinals 12 points off those second chances.

Yvonne Maosa (Arlington/Mansfield HS) had a great game for the Cardinals as she collected a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.  She was 5-of-9 from the field and added two assists.  Adams led the home team with 15 points and Merritt added six points, four rebounds and five steals.

Janelle Perez led the Demons with 18 points.  She was a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. Cheyenne Brown and Tia Youngblood each contributed with 11 points, while Youngblood led the team with nine rebounds.

The Cardinals head out on the road for their next two conference games to try to end their 10-game losing streak.  They play against Southeastern Louisiana on January 16 at 1 p.m., and against McNeese State on January 20 at 7 p.m.
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