SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season and first win of the Christy Smith era with a decisive 106-79 victory over LSU-Alexandria on a record-setting Tuesday afternoon at the McDermott Convocation Center.
 
RECORDS
 
Haley Frias started the game on absolute fire and never cooled off, finishing with a program record 42 points. Frias surpassed the previous mark of 40, set by Lynn Costanza on Nov. 21, 1987 at Judson.
 
Frias also set school and Southland Conference records for three-pointers made (12) and attempted (23). Her 12 made shots from long range tied the NCAA mark set by Cornelia Gayden on Feb. 9, 1995. Frias becomes one of only three players in the history of Division I women's basketball to make 12 three-pointers in a game.
 
As a team, the Cardinals set a new program record for three-pointers made (20) and three-pointers attempted (40). UIW's 20 made shots from deep are also the most in league history.
 
Cheyenne Berry etched her name in the record books with the second triple-double in school history, totaling 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
 
UIW hit the century mark for the first time since a 104-101 overtime loss to McNeese on Jan. 22, 2015. The Cardinals' 106 points were the most scored since a 109-21 defeat of American-Puerto Rico on Dec. 10, 1999.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
 
The Cardinals (1-9) found their rhythm early on Tuesday, lighting up the scoreboard with a three-point barrage. Frias went 7-of-10 from beyond the arc, racking up 23 first-half points to pace UIW.
 
The Cardinals shot 51.3 percent from the floor and 52.4 percent from long range over the first 20 minutes of play, while holding the Generals (2-5) to 55.2 percent and 33.3 percent respectively. Hot shooting, coupled with a dominant 22-13 rebounding edge, resulted in a 55-40 UIW advantage at the break.
 
Frias and Celia Garcia Paunero led the way in the second half, combining for 37 of the Cardinals' 51 points. The pair went 14-of-25 from the floor and knocked down nine combined threes in the final 20 minutes of action. UIW shot 55.6 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from deep, while holding LSU-A to 36.6 percent and 16.7 percent respectively in the second half.
 
The game was never in doubt and the Cardinals led by as many as 28 points as they cruised to victory.
 
THE BREAKDOWN

UIW shot 53.3 percent from the floor, 50.0 percent from three-point range and 85.7 percent from the charity stripe on the afternoon. In comparison, the Generals shot 44.3 percent from the field, 22.2 percent from beyond the arc and 68.4 percent from the free throw line.
 
The Cardinals earned a 42-37 rebounding edge, a 21-10 advantage on fast break points and a 16-11 edge on bench points. LSU-A picked up a 44-20 advantage on points in the paint and a slight 17-16 edge on points off turnovers.
 
LEADERS

Frias finished with four boards, three steals and two assists, to go along with her school-record 42 points. Berry chipped in 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, notching the second triple-double in UIW history. Garcia Paunero tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 26 points, 14 boards, two steals, a block and an assist. Melina Merritt also had a solid performance, contributing 10 assists, four points, a rebound and a steal. Cassandra Ramirez stuffed the stat sheet with seven assists, six points, three boards and two steals in the victory.
 
Katie Lemieux (25 points), Jonika Walton (nine rebounds) and Lillie Snowden (three assists) paced the Generals.
 
NOTEABLES

Tuesday's game served as Elementary Day as students from Cambridge Elementary attended the contest on a school field trip. UIW fed off of the energy of hundreds of rambunctious young Cardinal fans who sang, cheered and screamed from the time of their arrival until the final postgame autograph was signed.
 
UP NEXT
 
After a break to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, UIW will host Texas A&M-Kingsville at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 at the McDermott Convocation Center.

STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals open Southland Conference play against Nicholls at 1 p.m. on Dec. 31 in Thibodaux.
 
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