SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team will open its 2017-18 campaign on the road against a pair of challenging opponents in Oklahoma State and UT-Arlington. The Cardinals will meet the Cowgirls at 11 a.m. on Friday, before a quick turnaround to face the Mavericks at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
OPENING TIP
 
For the first time in program history the Cardinals are eligible for postseason play after completing a four-year transition to full NCAA Division I status. UIW will look to outperform league expectations for a second-consecutive season after being picked to finish 10^th in the Southland Conference preseason poll.
 
Last season the Cardinals were unanimously predicted to finish last, but ended the year ahead of six Southland foes. UIW would have entered postseason play as the No. 7 seed had the program not been in its final year of NCAA Division I transition.
 
The 2016-17 Cardinals earned their first victories in program history over Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston. UIW also picked up its first season-sweep of Nicholls. The Cardinals secured seven league wins, equaling the number of Southland victories the program had over its first three years of transition to NCAA Division I combined.
 
Undoubtedly, UIW will struggle to find a replacement for Second Team All-Southland honoree and SLC All-Defensive Team member Celia Garcia Paunero. The forward signed a professional contract with CD Zamarat of Spain at the conclusion of her senior season. The Cardinals will also have a tough time replacing floor general Cheyenne Berry, who was also lost to graduation.
 
While supplanting two senior captains will be difficult, UIW began the process in the offseason by adding seven talented freshmen signees and a pair of preferred walk-ons. Moreover, the Cardinals will gain the assistance of 6-2 center Quincy Baker and Utah transfer Gabbi Bowie, who each redshirted last season.
 
The 2017-18 UIW roster will be faster, stronger and undoubtedly bigger. Last year the Cardinals had just one player over 6-foot, while this season UIW has four. The average height of last year's team was just 5-foot-7-inches, while this season the Cardinals average 5-foot-9-inches as a unit. An average increase of two inches per player may not seem like much, but it translates to an extra 10 inches of height on the floor at all times.
 
To further put things into perspective, UIW's current roster is one inch taller on average than the roster of defending Southland Conference Champion Central Arkansas.
 
SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS
 
2016-17 Record: 17-15, 6-12 Big 12
Last Game: L 66-56 vs. Abilene Christian (Mar. 16, 2017) – WNIT Tournament
Head Coach: Jim Littell
Leaders:
No. 54 Sr. C Kaylee Jensen – 18.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 SPG
No. 24 Jr. G Karli Wheeler – 11.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG
No. 11 So. G Areanna Combs – 3.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.1 APG
Summary: The Cowgirls finished 17-15 last season, including a 6-12 mark in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State lost to Texas in the Big 12 Championship Tournament, before falling to fellow Southland Conference school Abilene Christian in the first round of the WNIT Tournament. The Cowgirls earned a 110-46 victory in an exhibition over East Central on Oct. 29, but Friday's game will serve as Oklahoma State's season-opener.
 
The Cowgirls averaged 66.2 points, while surrendering 65.1 per contest in 2016-17. Oklahoma State shot 41 percent from the floor and 30.9 percent from three-point range, while allowing 38.8 percent and 34.3 percent respectively. The Cowgirls posted a +4.4 rebounding margin and a +2.2 turnover margin last season.
 
Oklahoma State is led by returning senior center Kaylee Jensen, who averaged 18.7 points, 10.5 boards, 1.6 blocks, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Junior guard Karli Wheeler contributed 11.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per contest, while sophomore guard Areanna Combs turned in 3.5 points, 2.4 boards and 1.1 assists per game.
 
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
 
2016-17 Record: 22-9, 11-3 Sun Belt
Last Game: L 62-53 at Tulane (Mar. 16, 2017)
Head Coach: Krista Gerlich
Leaders:
No. 44 Sr. C Rebekah VanDijk – 15.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.3 BPG
No. 0 Sr. G Cierra Johnson – 12.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 3.1 SPG
No. 3 Sr. G Crystal Allen – 8.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.0 APG
Summary: The Mavericks finished 22-9 last season, including an 11-3 mark in Sun Belt action. UT-Arlington suffered a 62-53 loss at Tulane on March 16, in their final game of the 2016-17 season.
 
The Mavericks averaged 68.4 points, while surrendering 61 per contest last year. UT-Arlington shot 41.2 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing 40 percent and 34 percent respectively. The Mavericks posted a +0.8 rebounding margin and a -4.6 turnover margin last season.
 
UT-Arlington is led by returning senior center Rebekah Vandijk, who averaged 15.5 points, 8.8 boards and 1.3 blocks per game. Senior guard Cierra Johnson contributed 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 steals per contest, while fellow senior guard Crystal Allen turned in 8.4 points, 2.8 boards and 1.0 assists per game.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2016-17 Record: 9-20, 7-11 SLC
Last Game: L 68-65 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Mar. 4, 2017)
Head Coach: Christy Smith
Leaders:
No. 11 So. G Imani Robinson – 12.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.2 SPG
No. 10 Sr. G Haley Frias – 9.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.4 APG
No. 12 Sr. G Melina Merritt – 5.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG
Summary: The Cardinals finished 9-20 last season, including a 7-11 mark in Southland Conference play. UIW dropped a 68-65 decision at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to close out the 2016-17 season.
 
The Cardinals averaged 64.4 points, while surrendering 70.2 per contest last year. UIW shot 38.3 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing 42.4 percent and 34.2 percent respectively. The Cardinals posted a -3.0 rebounding margin and a -1.2 turnover margin last season.
 
UIW is led by reigning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Imani Robinson, who averaged 12.2 points, 6.1 boards, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Senior guard Haley Frias contributed 9.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest, while fellow senior guard Melina Merritt turned in 5.1 points, 3.5 assists, 2.6 boards and 1.1 steals per game.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals' home-opener will come on Wednesday, Nov. 15 as the squad welcomes regional foe Texas State for a 6 p.m. ballgame at the McDermott Center.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW will host UMHB at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 20.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.