TEMPE, Ariz. -- The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team fought hard through forty minutes with No. 23 Arizona State, but fell, 81-43 on Tuesday night in Tempe, Arizona.
 
NOTABLES

• Freshman forward Starr Omozee had a good showing in her first taste of collegiate action. She finished with seven points, tied for the most on the team.
• Junior forward Lunden Henry made an impressive impact in her UIW debut as well. She also posted seven points, while leading the team with eight rebounds.
• UIW hit three shots from beyond the arc from three different players: senior guard Gabbi Bowie, sophomore guard Kara Speer and sophomore forward Olivia Noah.
• Junior guard Victoria Jackson led the team in assists, along with Speer. They each had two.
• UIW forced 12 steals as a team, including a team-high four from junior guard Imani Robinson, just one shy of her career-high.
• Robinson finished with six points, two rebounds, four steals and one assist on the night.
• Junior guard Alexandra Busby-Leija also put up six points, all coming in the fourth quarter.
• Depth scoring was on display tonight as nine different Cardinals registered points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

QTR 1 (7-14): The Cardinals defense started off well, holding the Sun Devils to just 29 percent shooting, but an aggressive press from ASU made life difficult for the UIW offense. Robinson, Omozee and sophomore guard Liz Holter each had two points, while Speer added one of her own in the opening frame.

QTR 2 (20-40): UIW found an offensive rhythm late in the second quarter, getting points on each of its last three full possessions. The size of ASU proved difficult to manage, however, as the Sun Devils scored 10 second-chance points to establish a sizable halftime lead. L. Henry led the team with four points.

QTR 3 (32-61): The Cardinals were able to create good looks down low but couldn't convert as often as they'd like. UIW enjoyed another strong offensive end to the quarter, making three of its last five shots, but ASU extended its lead. Speer and Noah led the team with three points each.

QTR 4 (43-81): UIW maintained its defensive intensity into the fourth quarter, but the ASU attack proved to be too much. The Cardinals fought until the end but were unable to cut into the lead against the No. 23 team in the nation. UIW forced four turnovers in the fourth quarter to win the turnover battle, 19-16, throughout the game. Busby-Leija led the team with six points in the frame.

HEAR FROM COACH SMITH
"ASU is a top 25 team and a top 25 program in the nation. They return nearly their entire team from last year with lots of experience. 
 
We did some good things, but have to get stronger with finishing, rebounding, and handling the ball. 
 
Starr and Lunden did some good things tonight and will continue to improve throughout the season."
 
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals stay in Arizona to play Grand Canyon University on Friday night, a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. UIW will close out the road trip two days later at South Dakota, 3:15 p.m., before opening the home schedule against Houston, next Friday at 11:30 a.m.
 

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