Box Score ABILENE, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team traveled to Southland Conference leader Abilene Christian University on Wednesday night and nearly pulled off a great upset before losing, 66-58.

The Cardinals (6-22, 3-14) jumped out to an early 12-6 lead in the first quarter, but the Wildcats (24-3, 16-1) closed the period on a 13-0 run.  UIW closed to within three points in the second quarter after a three-pointer by Haley Frias (Georgetown/Georgetown HS) and two free throws from Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) made it 28-25 in favor of ACU.  The Wildcats pushed their lead back to eight points heading into halftime.

The second half started well for the Cardinals.  After the Wildcats scored the first two points, UIW scored the next 11 points and took a 37-36 lead on a jumper by Frias.  ACU went seven minutes without scoring before finally retaking the lead on a conventional three-point play by Sydney Shelstead with 2:26 left in the third quarter.  ACU went into the fourth quarter with a 45-41 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats led by 10 points with 3:45 remaining, but the Cardinals would not give up.  They cut the lead to four points on a jumper by Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) and had a chance on their next possession to make it a one possession game, but missed a three-point attempt.    The Wildcats made four free throws in the final 31 seconds to clinch the victory and the regular season Southland Conference title.

The Cardinals shot 42.3 percent from the field, made 4-of-18 from three-point range and were 10-of-15 from the foul line.  Quincy Baker (Houston/Klein HS) led the team with 17 points and nine rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting from the field.  Adams and Williams each added nine points.  The team had 34 rebounds and committed 22 turnovers.

The Wildcats shot 39.6 percent from the field, made 5-of-19 from three-point range and were 19-of-30 from the foul line.  Suzzy Dimba nearly had a triple-double with 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks.  Whitney West scored 14 points and Alexis Mason added 13 points and six steals.  They had one more rebound than the Cardinals and committed six fewer turnovers.

The Cardinals close out the season on Saturday at noon at Houston Baptist University.
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