SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Freshman forward Sydnee Wynn registered her first career double-double on Monday night, with career-highs in points, rebounds and assists, but the performance wasn't enough as the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team fell to South Dakota, 81-51, at the McDermott Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Cardinals (1-6) took an early 4-0 lead after Wynn and Kara Speer hit back-to-back jumpers to start the game. The teams traded buckets over the next few minutes, and with 3:47 remaining in the first quarter, Imani Robinson connected on a pair of free throws to put UIW ahead, 12-11. It would be the Cardinals' final lead of the night.
 
The Coyotes (4-4) immediately stole the advantage with a three-pointer, and closed out the frame on a 10-5 run to go up, 21-17, after 10 minutes of action.
 
UIW pulled within one after Alexandra Busby-Leija drilled a three-pointer to start the second quarter, but South Dakota quickly pushed its lead back to four. With 6:49 left in the half, Quincy Baker sank a layup to make it a one-possession game, but the Yotes closed out the period on a 19-4 run.
 
South Dakota led, 44-27, at the break.
 
Wynn and Melina Merritt made a pair of layups to start the third quarter, but the Yotes continued to dial up the pressure, leading by as many as 26 points in the frame.
 
Wynn traded buckets with South Dakota to start the fourth, knocking down a pair of layups in the early minutes of the final period, but the Yotes continued to pull away.
 
THE BREAKDOWN
 
The Cardinals had one of their best performances of the season from the floor, shooting 45.5 percent. UIW struggled from three-point range and at the free throw line, shooting just 22.2 percent from beyond the arc and 52.9 percent at the charity stripe. In stark contrast, South Dakota shot 56 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from deep and 89.5 percent at the free throw line.
 
UIW dominated the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Yotes, 32-19. The Cardinals converted their extra opportunities into a 14-7 edge on second chance points.
 
South Dakota finished with 20 assists and only 8 turnovers, compared to 8 assists and 25 turnovers for UIW. The Yotes took full advantage, outscoring the Cardinals, 31-8, on points off turnovers.
 
South Dakota gained an 18-11 edge on bench points, a 38-28 advantage on points in the paint and an 8-0 edge on fast break points.
 
LEADERS
 
Wynn finished with career-highs in points (20), rebounds (11) and assists (3), while adding 1 block. She shot 9-of-12 from the floor on the night. Robinson and Merritt contributed 9 and 7 points respectively.
 
Allison Arens paced the Yotes with 21 points, 6 assists, 5 boards and 2 steals.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals travel to Houston for a 2 p.m. date with Rice on Saturday, Dec. 9.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW makes a return trip to H-Town on Monday, Dec. 18, to face Houston at 11 a.m.
 
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.