SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team watched a 17-point lead evaporate in the second half, but made enough plays down the stretch to defeat Texas A&M-Kingsville, 79-66, on Wednesday night at the McDermott Convocation Center.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
 
With 5:56 remaining in the game, the Cardinals (2-9) and Javelinas (7-4) were locked in a 61-61 tie, but UIW closed the game on an 18-5 run, pulling away in the final minutes to preserve the team's second-consecutive victory.
 
The Cardinals led by 17 at the 4:34 mark of the second quarter, but TAMUK fought back with a 13-4 run, cutting the UIW advantage to just eight points at the break.
 
The Javelinas continued to chip away, and with 1:51 remaining in the third, TAMUK tied the ballgame at 51 apiece.
 
THE BREAKDOWN
 
The Cardinals shot 41.5 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, while the Javelinas shot 41.0 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range. UIW continued its outstanding shooting from the free throw line, hitting 80.0 (16-of-20) percent as a team. TAMUK was less aggressive, earning only 12 opportunities at the charity stripe, while knocking down eight.
 
The Cardinals won the battle of the boards, 44-35, while earning a 17-8 edge on second chance points. UIW also picked up a 17-6 advantage on fast break points, with a slight edge on points in the paint, 26-22. The Javelinas finished with a 33-20 advantage on bench points.
 
LEADERS
 
Celia Garcia Paunero led the way for the Cardinals with her seventh double-double of the year. She finished with 23 points, 10 boards, an assist and a steal, while making all 12 of her free throws. After being named the Southland Conference Player of the Week, Haley Frias continued her hot shooting from beyond the arc, knocking down 5-of-9 three-pointers for 15 points, all of which came in the first half. Frias added a team-high five assists, six rebounds and two steals. Coming off of a triple-double performance, Cheyenne Berry narrowly missed recording a double-double. She turned in 16 points, nine boards, four assists, two steals and a block. Alexandra Busby-Leija and Imani Robinson each scored nine points, while combining for seven rebounds and two assists on the night. Melina Merritt finished with a small straight in Yahtzee, contributing five points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
Shaq Debose (17 points), Kaylee Kana (eight boards) and Meesha Wade (three assists) paced TAMUK.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals open Southland Conference play against Nicholls at 1 p.m. on Dec. 31 in Thibodaux, La.

STAY TUNED
 
UIW will head to Hammond for a league matchup against Southeastern Louisiana at 2 p.m. on January 2.
 
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