SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball program demonstrated on Monday just how bright its future is, as a core of underclassmen propelled the team to a 76-58 win over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at the McDermott Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Crusaders (1-1) came out with a ton of energy early, securing a 7-3 lead at the 4:10 mark of the first quarter.
 
The Cardinals (1-3) responded in a major way, closing out the period with 15 unanswered points, all scored by UIW freshmen and sophomores.
 
The teams traded baskets over the start of the second, and with 1:52 remaining in the half, the Cardinals maintained a 13-point advantage.
 
UIW pressed the accelerator again at the end of the second frame, and punctuated a 10-3 run with a steal and buzzer-beating layup from freshman Kara Speer.
 
The Cardinals held a 42-22 lead at the break.
 
UMHB battled back in the third quarter. The Cru opening the period with nine consecutive points, before sophomore Imani Robinson put an end to the run with a layup at the 6:27 mark.
 
When UIW surveyed the damage, they were outscored 24-16 in the period.
 
The Cardinals regained their composure in the final frame and limited UMHB to just 12 points, while scoring 18, on their way to an 18-point margin of victory.
 
THE BREAKDOWN
 
UIW shot 46.8 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range, while holding the Cru to just 28.6 percent from both the floor and from long range.
 
The Cardinals picked up a 35-8 edge on bench points and dominated the post, earning a 44-20 advantage on points in the paint. UIW picked up a 14-9 edge on steals, which contributed to a 14-9 advantage on fast break points.
 
The battle of the boards close, with the Cardinals earning a slight 47-45 advantage. UIW finished +3 on both points off turnovers and second chance points, while committing 3 fewer turnovers than UMHB.
 
LEADERS
 
Robinson led the Cardinals with season highs in points (23), rebounds (5), assists (5) and steals (3). Speer turned in career highs in points (16), boards (4), steals (2) and assists (1), while freshmen post players Sydnee Wynn and Kandyce Shepard combined for 17 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Liz Holter had a career high 8 assists in the win.
 
Hannah Holt paced the Cru with 24 points, 6 boards, 2 steals and an assist.
 
NOTEABLES
 
UIW underclassmen accounted for 88.1 percent of the team's scoring on Monday night. The Cardinals also acquired 78.7 percent of their rebounding, 84.2 percent of their assists, 78.6 percent of their steals and both of their blocks from freshmen and sophomores.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW travels to Salt Lake City for a road test against Utah at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals have a quick turnaround as they battle Weber State at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25 in Ogden, Utah.
 
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