NEW ORLEANS, La. – After battling Lamar in a postponed game on Thursday, the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team will have a quick turnaround as the squad heads east for a matchup with New Orleans at 4 p.m. on Saturday in The Big Easy.
 
HOW TO WATCH
 
Fans of UIW women's hoops can catch all the action live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App.
 
OPENING TIP
 
Seventeen games into their 2017-18 schedule, the Cardinals (3-14, 2-4 SLC) hold a virtually identical record to last season, despite facing an incredibly challenging non-conference slate. Through 17 games in 2016-17, UIW was 4-13 overall, with a 2-4 mark in Southland Conference play. That squad went on to finish 9-20, with a 7-11 mark in league action, and would have entered the Southland Conference Tournament as the No. 7 seed, had the program been eligible for postseason play.
 
Now having completed their four-year transition to the NCAA Division I level, the Cardinals are postseason eligible and primed for a run at Katy. And while the UIW youngsters would undoubtedly love to have a few more notches in the win column now, the Cardinals may be hitting their stride at just the right time.
 
SCOUTING THE PRIVATEERS
 
Record: 8-10, 4-3 SLC
Last Game: W 52-48 at Central Arkansas (Jan. 17, 2018)
Head Coach: Keeshawn Davenport
Leaders:
No. 22 Sr. G Randi Brown – 22.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.4 SPG
No. 30 Jr. C Shania Woods – 10.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG
No. 23 r-Jr. G Mariah Wright – 5.4 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.9 SPG
Summary: The Privateers finished 14-15 last season, including a 9-9 mark against Southland Conference competition. New Orleans was eliminated in the first round of the SLC Tournament by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 88-77.
 
The Privateers are currently 8-10 overall and 4-3 in league play. New Orleans is coming off of an impressive 52-48 road victory over Central Arkansas in Conway.
 
The Privateers average 65 points, while surrendering 67.6 per contest. New Orleans shoots 37 percent from the floor and 31.8 percent from three-point range, while allowing 41.2 percent and 28.7 percent respectively. The Privateers hold a -2.9 rebounding margin and a +1.7 turnover margin this season.
 
New Orleans is led by senior guard Randi Brown, who averages 22.7 points, 3.9 boards, 2.6 assists and 2.4 steals. Junior center Shania Woods pulls down a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game, to go along with 10.6 points. Redshirt-junior guard Mariah Wright averages 5.4 points, 3.1 assists, 2.9 boards and 1.9 steals.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
Record: 3-14, 2-4 SLC
Last Game: L 77-54 at Lamar (Jan. 18, 2018)
Head Coach: Christy Smith
Leaders:
No. 11 So. G Imani Robinson – 11.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 1.4 APG
No. 15 Fr. F Sydnee Wynn – 7.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.1 BPG
No. 04 r-Jr. G Gabbi Bowie – 7.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 APG
Summary: The Cardinals finished 9-20 last season, including a 7-11 mark against Southland Conference competition. UIW is currently 3-14 overall and 2-4 in league play, after falling to Lamar, 77-54, on Saturday in Beaumont.
 
The Cardinals average 50.2 points, while surrendering 70.7 per contest. UIW shoots 32.2 percent from the floor and 25.1 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing 43.2 percent and 35.0 percent respectively. The Cardinals hold a -5.7 rebounding margin and a -4.0 turnover margin this season.
 
UIW is led by reigning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Imani Robinson, who averages 11.3 points, 4.6 boards, 1.9 steals and 1.4 assists. Freshman forward Sydnee Wynn pulls down a team-high 6.6 rebounds per contest, while adding 7.4 points and 1.1 blocks. Redshirt-junior Utah transfer Gabbi Bowie averages 7.3 points, 3.0 boards and 1.0 assists.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
New Orleans has a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series with UIW. The Privateers have won the previous three meetings, including an 84-58 victory over the Cardinals in the most recent meeting between programs on Feb. 9, last season in New Orleans.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW welcomes Houston Baptist to San Antonio for a 6 p.m. matchup on Wednesday.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals host New Orleans at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27. The matchup will serve as UIW's annual Cancer Awareness Game, where the team supports Play 4 Kay, an organization that benefits the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Tickets will be sold at a discounted rate of $5.
 
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.