WICHITA, Kans. – Celia Garcia Paunero poured in 26 points and 16 rebounds, and the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team put together a furious fourth-quarter comeback, but Murray State held on for a 72-68 victory in the opening game of the Shocker Winter Classic on Friday night at Charles Koch Arena.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cardinals (0-8) trailed by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, but put together a 17-4 run over a span of 5:17 to tie the Racers (6-4) at 65 apiece with 2:25 remaining. UIW held Murray State without a field goal over that stretch and put on an offensive clinic as Garcia Paunero, Haley Frias and Cheyenne Berry combined for 15 of the Cardinals' 20 fourth-quarter points. Despite UIW's valiant effort, the Racers broke the tie with a three-pointer and knocked down enough free throws in the final seconds to hold on for the win.
 
The Cardinals grabbed an early 3-0 lead after a Frias' three-pointer, but Murray State answered with a deep ball to tie the game. The Racers pushed their lead to seven, but UIW fought back. After a Garcia Paunero jumper in the final seconds of the frame, the Cardinals trailed, 16-12, after one.
 
Murray State opened the second quarter with back-to-back made shots from beyond the arc, securing a 10-point lead advantage the 8:55 mark. UIW answered with a three-point barrage of its own as Frias, Garcia Paunero and Melina Merritt each knocked down a shot from long range. With four seconds remaining in the frame, Garcia Paunero hit a jumper that pulled the Cardinals within three points, and the Racers took a 34-31 advantage into halftime.
 
Garcia Paunero was fouled on a made layup to open the third quarter. She knocked down the subsequent free throw, completing the and-one opportunity and tying the ballgame. Murray State responded with a 16-2 run over the next four minutes, taking its largest lead of the night at 14 points.

THE BREAKDOWN

UIW shot 37.5 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from three-point range, while allowing 45.6 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Cardinals earned a slight edge in second chance points and bench points, while the Racers grabbed a slim advantage in points off turnovers and fast break points.
 
LEADERS
 
Garcia Paunero dished out three assists, blocked two shots and added a steal, to go along with her 26-point, 16-rebound double-double performance. Berry paced the squad with five assists, while scoring 13 points and pulling down six boards. Frias finished with 14 points, two rebounds and an assist on the night.
 
LeAsia Wright (20 points), Kyra Gulledge (nine boards) and Ke'Shunan James (five assists) led Murray State.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW will take on host team Wichita State at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Shocker Winter Classic finale.

STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals return to San Antonio for a home bout against LSU-Alexandria at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 20.
 
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