SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team played a strong first half against the second-best scoring defense in the nation, but the second half was a completely different story as they dropped a Southland Conference game to University of Central Arkansas, 76-57 on Saturday at the McDermott Center. 

The Cardinals (6-17, 3-9) only trailed by six points at the half after shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from three-point range.  They made five of their eight three-pointers and seven of eight free throws, which kept them in the game.  Celia Garcia Paunero (Valladolid, Spain/Julian Marias HS) nailed two three-pointers in back-to-back possessions to get the Cardinals to within four points with 6:59 left in the first half.  Later in the half, Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) hit a three-pointer and a layup to cut the lead down to one point.  The Sugar Bears would then finish the half on a 10-5 run to make it a six-point lead.

The second half was all Central Arkansas (20-3, 10-2).  They outscored the Cardinals 34-21, holding them to 25.0 percent from the field and from beyond the arc. On the offensive side, all five Sugar Bear starters scored double-digits.  Maggie Profit led the way with 15 points while Kendara Watts followed with 14.  Jameka Watkins led the team with eight assists while also adding 12 points and Raquel Logan grabbed nine boards for the team lead.

Central Arkansas dominated the rebounds in this game pulling down 19 more boards than the Cardinals.  Also, the points in the paint marked a big difference as they outscored UIW, 46-14 in the paint.

Adams and Yvonne Maosa (Arlington/Mansfield HS) led the Cardinals in scoring with 15 and 14 points, respectively.  Adams finished 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.  Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) contributed to the Cardinals with nine points and also dished out a team high five assists. As a team, UIW shot 33.9 percent from the field, compared to the Sugar Bears' 53.4 percent from the field and 10-for-10 from the free throw line.

The Cardinals will look to bounce back when they host Houston Baptist University in a home conference game next Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at the McDermott Center.
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