SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team, fresh after a week of no competition, prepares to host Sam Houston State in its Southland Conference home opener Saturday afternoon at the McDermott Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CT.
 
Both teams enter the day with a 1-1 record in SLC play, with SHSU's lone victory coming over Central Arkansas, at home on Wednesday, 66-62.

 
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ROBINSON LEADS THE WAY

• Junior guard Imani Robinson has enjoyed a return to form in recent games, re-establishing herself as the offenses main threat.
• In her last four games, Robinson has scored a total of 62 points (15.5 per game), including a season-best 17 against UMASS (12/7).
• She has found her stroke from three-point range, where the preseason all-SLC selection has made at least one bucket in her current four game stretch – an average of two made threes per game.
• Through her offensive renaissance, Robinson has remained a constant all-around threat for the Cardinals. She leads or is among the leaders, in all major statistical categories including first in points (131) assists (31), steals (22) free throws made (28) and attempted (41). She is second on the team in 3pt made (13) and blocks (5) and third on the team in total rebounds (52).

 
TOWER OF LUNDEN

• Since arriving in the Alamo City, junior forward Lunden Henry has established herself as the Cardinal's leading presence in the paint. She averages 7.6 points per game on a team-leading .411 shooting (44-107), while pulling in an average of 5.2 rebounds per contest.
• She enjoyed her most productive game of the season in UIW's last outing at McNeese, where she recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds for her first career Division I double-double.
• Lunden has proven to be a hard worker on the offensive glass, leading the team with 34 offensive rebounds this season, including a season-high six, which she has achieved twice this year – vs UTA (Dec. 2) and at McNeese (Jan. 2).
• Those 34 offensive rebounds are fifth most in the conference by an individual.

 
GELLING FROM DEEP

• Junior guard Angelica Wiggins leads the team with 24 three pointers made.
• She is shooting 33.3 percent from long range, the fourth highest percentage in the conference.
• She made a season-high seven threes at UMASS (Dec. 7), the most triples made by a Cardinal since 2016 and the most by a Cardinal against a Division I opponent since UIW joined Divison I in the 2013-14 season.
• Her 21 points against UMASS stand as her current season high, becoming the first Cardinal to eclipse the 20 point mark this season.
• The Toronto native has made multiple three-pointers in seven games this season, including doing so in three of her last five contests.
• Wiggins also leads the team with six blocks this season.
   

 
SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON

• The Bearkats enter play with a 6-6 record, 1-1 SLC.
• This will be SHSU's first road conference game of the season, the Bearkats went 1-8 in road conference matches last season.
• They are led by junior guard Jaylonn Walker. She is averaging 16.1 points, 3.75 assists, 3.3 rebounds and three steals a game, including 18 points in their last outing against UCA.
• This will be the first and only meeting between UIW and SHSU this season. The Bearkats lead the all-time series, 3-2, despite UIW winning each of the last two meetings.

 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals head back out onto the road to face Central Arkansas, in Conway, Ark. Next Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip. After that, UIW returns to the McDermott Center for the Operation Sellout game against SFA, broadcasted on ESPN3, next Saturday, Jan. 19, at 1 p.m.

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