AMHERST, Mass. -- The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team found their shooting rhythm in the second half but couldn't complete the comeback Friday night against UMASS at the William D. Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Cardinals made eight threes in the second half to cut into the Minutewomen lead, but ultimately fell short on the road by a final score of 71-59.
 
NOTABLES

• Junior guard Angelica Wiggins had her best three-point shooting performance of the season, hitting seven of 10 attempts to score a team-high 21 points.
• It's the most made threes by a UIW player since Dec. 20, 2-16 when Haley Frias made 12 (vs. LSU-Alexandria).
• Freshman guard Macy Ray scored a season-high 11 points, the first double digit scoring performance of her collegiate career.
• Junior guard Imani Robinson was a workhorse for the Cardinals, logging 37 minutes and putting home a season-high 17 points, her third double digit scoring night of the season.
• As a team, UIW made 12 threes tonight, a new season high and the most triples made since Dec. 20, 2016 (20 made threes vs. LSU-Alexandria).
• Robinson also led the team in rebounds and assists, collecting four and three respectively.
• Ray recorded a season-best three steals on the night as well.
• Junior forward Alexis Henry recorded another block tonight, her fourth of the season. She has now recorded at least one block in three consecutive games.

HOW IT HAPPENED
QTR 1 (10-18): The Cardinals got off to a good start as junior forward Lunden Henry and Wiggins each hit shots to give UIW an early 5-4 lead. After a UMASS run, Robinson showed her skills by hitting a scoop shot layup and coming back on the next possession with a three from the left elbow to bring the Cardinals within five. The Minutewomen hit a shot and a free throw to extend the lead to eight at the end of ten minutes. Robinson led the team with five points.

QTR 2 (21-39): UIW was hit with the turnover bug to start the second quarter, allowing UMASS to extend its lead. Ray found her rhythm four minutes into the frame, dropping nine points while shooting a perfect 3-3 from the field. The freshman ended the quarter with a nifty play, poking the ball loose at half court for an easy layup to send the Cardinals into the half. Her nine points led all UIW scorers after two quarters of play. Ray and Alexis Henry paced the team with three rebounds through the first half as well.

QTR 3 (44-61): Wiggins came out of the halftime break on fire from long range, she hit all four of her triples in the third quarter to carry the UIW offense. Unfortunately, the UMASS offense continued to produce and they led by 17 by the end of the frame. UIW shot 55.6 percent from three in the quarter (5-9).

QTR 4 (59-71): Wiggins carried her three point stroke into the final quarter, making two more deep balls to help UIW cut the lead to just 10 points with 4:06 remaining, but UMASS hit its free throws late in the game to collect its sixth win of the season.

HEAR FROM COACH SMITH
"The second half was encouraging with the way the team competed. We've struggled to play a complete game this year, but it's good to see the team put together a quality half like that on the road.

Wiggins struggled to start but came back and shot lights out in the second. I feel like Imani played her most complete game of the season and Macy is continuing to improve every game. We'll need to maintain this level of effort into practice through this break in our schedule and come back ready to turn some heads come conference season."

UP NEXT
UIW will enjoy a break for finals and the holidays, before playing its non-conference finale against Rice on Dec. 29 at 1:00 p.m. CT in the McDermott Center. Southland Conference play will follow soon after, when the Cardinals go on the road to face McNeese on Jan. 2, 2019. Tip-off for that game is set for 6:30 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG
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