SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team was unable to get a win on Senior Day against visiting Southland Conference rival Lamar University on Saturday losing 67-61 at the McDermott Center.

UIW led after the first quarter and at half time by one point, but Lamar took the lead with a strong third quarter.  Baleigh O'Dell scored 10 points in a five minute span for the visitors and it turned a 3-point UIW lead into an 8-point advantage for Lamar.

Incarnate Word battled back in the fourth quarter and took the lead on a jumper in the lane by Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) with 5:11 remaining.  UIW led 59-56 after a free throw by Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) with 2:59 to play, but Chastadie Barrs tied it up with a three-pointer on Lamar's next possession.  LU forced a turnover and converted again to take a 61-59 lead and then Laka Blache put back a miss by Barrs with 1:45 to play to make it a 4-point margin.

Quincy Baker (Houston/Klein HS) hit a jumper for UIW to cut the lead in half, but then Blache scored again and the Cardinals could get no closer.  O'Dell made a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left to clinch the game.

UIW shot 35.8 percent from the field, made 3-18 from three-point range and were 10-for-12 at the foul line.  Yvonne Maosa (Arlington/Mansfield HS) had 15 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in her final home game.  Melina Merritt (Round Rock/Cedar Ridge HS) added 15 points and four assists while Baker had a double-double off the bench with 10 points and 12 boards, including seven on the offensive end.  Incarnate Word had four more rebounds than Lamar and committed the same number of turnovers.

Lamar shot 47.4 percent from the field, made 3-of-6 from three-point range and was 10-of-16 at the charity stripe.  Blache led the way with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.  Kiara Desamours added 14 points, six rebounds and four steals while Barrs finished with 11 points, eight assists and six rebounds.  O'Dell added 14 points off the bench.

Adams, Maosa, Shanise Brooks and Breanna Birmingham were all honored prior to the start of the game for Senior Day.  The team travels to Abilene Christian for a 7 o'clock game on Wednesday night.
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