WICHITA, Kansas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team is set to play two games at the Shocker Winter Classic, running Friday through Saturday at Charles Koch Arena.
 
OPENING TIP
 
The Cardinals (0-7) will battle the Racers (5-4) at 4 p.m. on Friday, before taking on the host Shockers (3-5) at 2 p.m. on Saturday. UIW's tournament-finale matchup with Wichita State will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
 
SCOUTING THE RACERS
 
Record: 6-4
Last Game: W 93-37 vs. MacMurray (Dec. 12)
Head Coach: Rob Cross
Leaders:
#20 Jr. G Ke'Shunan James – 20.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.1 SPG
#23 Sr. G LeAsia Wright – 15.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG
#30 Sr. C Kyra Gulledge – 8.9 RPG, 3.8 PPG, 2.0 BPG
Summary: The Racers enter Friday's matchup with a 6-4 overall record. Murray State is riding a two-game winning streak and coming off of a dominant 93-37 thrashing of MacMurray on Monday.
 
The Racers average 77.7 points, while surrendering 65.3 per contest. Murray State shoots 41.4 percent from the floor and 29.6 percent from three-point range, while allowing 36.9 percent and 26.4 percent respectively. The Racers have a +3.3 rebounding margin and a +2.1 turnover margin this season.
 
Murray State is led by junior guard Ke'Shunan James, who averages 20.0 points, 7.8 boards, 4.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Senior guard LeAsia Wright is second on the team in both points (15.2) and assists (2.8), while contributing 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest. Senior center Kyra Gulledge averages a team-high 8.9 boards, to go along with 3.8 points and 2.0 blocks per game.
 
SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS
 
Record: 3-5
Last Game: L 64-57 at Missouri (Dec. 9)
Head Coach: Jody Adams-Birch
Leaders:
#35 Jr. F Rangie Bessard – 14.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG
#23 Sr. G TaQuandra Mike – 7.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG
#01 Jr. G Keke Thompson – 6.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.8 SPG
Summary: The Shockers will play Abilene Christian on Friday, before facing the Cardinals on Saturday. Murray State enters the Shocker Winter Classic with a 3-5 overall record.
 
The Shockers average 60.9 points, while surrendering 68.1 per contest. Murray State shoots 42.1 percent from the floor and 32.5 percent from three-point range, while giving up 44.9 percent and 34.1 percent respectively. The Shockers have a -5.4 rebounding margin and a -1.5 turnover margin this season.
 
Murray State is led by junior forward Rangie Bessard, who averages 14.0 points and 4.5 boards per game. Senior guard TaQuandra Mike is second on the team in average scoring (7.5) and assists (2.6), while contributing 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. Junior guard Keke Thompson leads the team with 3.4 assists per game, while averaging 6.6 points, 4.0 boards and 1.8 steals.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
Record: 0-7
Last Game: L 84-61 at North Texas (Dec. 10)
Head Coach: Christy smith
Leaders:
#23 Sr. F Celia Garcia Paunero – 14.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG
#00 Sr. G Cheyenne Berry – 8.1 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG
#12 Fr. G Imani Robinson – 5.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.8 APG
Summary: The Cardinals have started the season 0-7, and are coming off of an 84-61 loss to North Texas in Denton.
 
UIW averages 49.0 points, while surrendering 72.1 per contest. The Cardinals shoot an identical 30.3 percent from the floor and from the three-point range, while allowing 46.6 percent and 44.2 percent respectively. UIW has a -10.4 rebounding margin and a -1.5 turnover margin this season.
 
The Cardinals are led by senior forward Celia Garcia Paunero, who averages 14.0 points, 9.3 boards, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals per contest. Senior guard Cheyenne Berry dishes out a team-leading 2.4 assists per game, while contributing 8.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Freshman guard Imani Robinson averages 5.8 points, 5.7 boards, and 1.8 assists per contest.
 
SERIES HISTORY

UIW's meetings with Murray State and Wichita State each will be the first in program history.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals return to San Antonio for a home bout against LSU-Alexandria at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

STAY TUNED
 
UIW will host Texas A&M-Kingsville at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at the McDermott Convocation Center.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.