SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team mounted a late comeback on Saturday, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi took advantage of missed free throws and late miscues by UIW to escape with a 62-58 victory at the McDermott Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Cardinals (3-18, 2-8 SLC) scored first with a Sydnee Wynn layup, but five UIW turnovers in the first five minutes allowed the Islanders (13-8, 6-4 SLC) to jump out to a 10-2 lead.
 
Olivia Noah and Alexandra Busby-Leija provided a spark off the bench for the Cardinals, but A&M-Corpus Christi held a 17-8 advantage after one.
 
Melina Merritt opened the second period with a three-pointer off of a feed from Imani Robinson. Thirty-six seconds later, Charmaine McBride hit a fadeaway over two Islander defenders to pull the Cardinals within four.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi responded with a layup, but UIW scored seven consecutive points to secure a 20-19 lead at the 5:33 mark.
 
The Islanders immediately countered with seven straight points of their own, and closed out the first half on a 13-4 run.
 
At the break, A&M-Corpus Christi maintained a 32-24 advantage.
 
Kara Speer initiated the third quarter with three-point basket just 20 seconds in. After a steal and Merritt layup, the Cardinals trailed by three points, but the Islanders punched back with a layup of their own.
 
After a pair of free throws from McBride and a Wynn layup, UIW trailed, 34-33, but the Islanders answered again with back-to-back scores.
 
Wynn bullied her way to a pair of layups as the Cardinals traded punches with A&M-Corpus Christi, and with 22 seconds left in the frame, the Islanders held a three-point lead.
 
On the final play of the quarter, Robinson drove to the basket dropped off a pass to Liz Holter, who went up for a layup on the left side of the basket, ducked under a defender and finished on the right side. Holter put just enough English on the ball that it slowly circled the rim, before falling through as time expired.
 
Despite an exciting finish to the third for UIW, the Cardinals were unable to carry their momentum into the final frame. The Islanders opened the fourth on an 11-0 run, securing their largest lead of the afternoon, 53-41.
 
Just when it looked as though the game was out of reach, Robinson flipped a switch, scoring nine of her team-high 15 points in the final 5:35. Following Robinson's lead, UIW clawed its way back into the contest, and with 27 seconds remaining, a layup from Wynn made it a two-point ballgame, 57-55.
 
The Islanders pushed their advantage back to four, before a foul sent Robinson to the charity stripe. Robinson connected on her first free throw attempt and missed her second, but an offensive rebound by Gabbi Bowie gave the Cardinals life. With 14 seconds on the clock, Holter drove the lane with a move straight out of Tony Parker's playbook and found the net with a teardrop over the outstretched arms of multiple A&M-Corpus Christi defenders.
 
UIW was forced to intentionally foul, and the Islanders calmly sank two free throws to recapture a three-point advantage.
 
The Cardinals were unable to tie things up on the ensuing possession, committing a turnover that effectively ended the game.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi added a free throw with five seconds remaining and held on for the win.
 
THE BREAKDOWN
 
UIW shot 43.5 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing 44.9 percent and 30.8 percent respectively. The Cardinals shot 63.6 percent (14-of-22) at the charity stripe. Seven of UIW's eight missed free throws came in the second half.
 
The Cardinals earned a slight edge in the battle of the boards, 32-28, while posting a 9-4 advantage on second chance points.
 
The Islanders picked up a minor edge on points in the paint, and committed two fewer turnovers than UIW.
 
LEADERS
 
Robinson finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal and a career-high 6 assists. Wynn added 14 points, 8 boards, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 steal. McBride and Noah combined for 12 points, while Bowie pulled down 8 rebounds.
 
Emma Young led A&M-Corpus Christi with 18 points, 6 boards, 1 assist and 1 block.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals travel to Hammond on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. date with Southeastern Louisiana.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW faces a road test at rival Abilene Christian on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m.
 
To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
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.