SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team battled hard, but couldn't hold on, falling to Houston in its home opener, 60-79 Friday afternoon at the McDermott Center. Freshman forward Starr Omozee led the team in points and rebounds on her way to her second double-double of the season.
 
NOTABLES

• As a team, UIW hauled in 28 offensive rebounds, the most in program history since joining DI.
• Omozee earned her second double-double in just four collegiate games, racking up 19 points and 10 rebounds.
• This was her third game to score double-digit points and the first time in her career to lead the team in scoring.
• She was a force on the offensive glass, leading the team with six offensive rebounds.
• Junior guard Imani Robinson led the team with five assists. It's the most assists any Cardinal has recorded in a single game this season and one shy of Robinson's career high.
• Junior guard Angelica Wiggins posted a season-best nine points on two made threes and three free-throws.
• The Toronto native added four rebounds, an assist and a block in the loss.
• Junior forward Lunden Henry was her normal self in the paint. Scoring eight points and pulling in eight rebounds. It was her third game of the season with at least five points and five rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
QTR 1 (18-19): The Cardinals got off to a strong start in the opening frame, out rebounding the Cougars 8-1 through the first five minutes. UIW managed to dictate the pace of play well, but timely perimeter scoring from the visitors kept the score close. The Cougars hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to take a one-point lead after the first. Omozee and sophomore forward Olivia Noah each led the team with five points.

QTR 2 (32-37): The second quarter played out very similar to the first. UIW continued to crash the offensive glass with great success, while Houston made three shots from beyond the arc. Omozee led the team with six points.

QTR 3 (47-57): The Cardinals cut the lead to three, 40-43, with just over six minutes remaining in the quarter off of a three-pointer from Robinson. But, Houston's already strong outside shooting got ratcheted up, as the Cougars made five of their 10 shots from distance to establish a 10-point lead entering the final quarter. Omozee led the team with six points.

QTR 4 (60-79): Houston unleashed full-court pressure in the fourth quarter to help UH on a 13-3 run early in the final frame. The Cardinals fought until the end, but the relentless pressure from Houston finally overcame the work from UIW. Houston would go on to win the game by 19 points. Senior guard Gabbi Bowie led the team with four points in the period.

HEAR FROM COACH SMITH
"Very proud of our team's effort and aggressiveness on the boards. We told them going into the game that it was going to be a 40 min box out drill today and they executed.
 
Houston is a very talented, and an extremely athletic ball team. I thought we did a good job of understanding the game plan as a group. 49 rebounds against a team like Houston is something to build on."
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals go back out onto the road for a Sunday afternoon game against San Diego State (3:00 p.m.). They follow that with a home game against Weber State the night before Thanksgiving (5:00 p.m. on Nov. 21).

FOLLOW ALONG
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