SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team fell victim to a ferocious second half outpouring from its opponent, falling 76-56 to Sam Houston State on Saturday afternoon at the McDermott Center.
 
NOTABLES

• As a team, UIW made its first 17 free throws of the game. They finished making 23 shots from the line (23-28), a new season high.
• Junior forward Lunden Henry and freshman forward Starr Omozee each scored 10 points to lead the team.
• It was Omozee's fourth double digit point performance of the season, and her first in conference action.
• Omozee also grabbed five rebounds in the loss to give her at least eight points and five rebounds in all conference games this season, and in seven games overall this year.
• For Henry, it was her fifth 10+ point game of the season and second in conference play.
• She also led the team with six rebounds, marking her seventh game of the season recording at least five points and five boards (10 pts, six reb.).
• Sophomore Kara Speer made her third start of the season and went 5-5 from the charity stripe, a new career high. She finished with nine points for the second consecutive game.
• Junior guard Imani Robinson led the team with four assists while also adding five rebounds and six points in limited minutes, due to foul trouble.
• Senior guard Gabbi Bowie collected a season-high five rebounds, as did junior guard Angelica Wiggins.
• UIW recorded 17 offensive rebounds, compared to 14 from Sam Houston. This marks the fourth consecutive game the Cardinals have out-rebounded their opponents on the offensive glass.
• The Cardinals recorded 24 bench points, giving them 79 through the first three games of conference play, the highest total through the first three games of conference in DI program history.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
QTR 1 (16-15): UIW got out of the gates quickly, going on a 7-0 run through the first 1:33 of the contest. The Bearkats climbed back into the game as the quarter went on, claiming their first lead of the game five minutes later, 12-11. But a high arcing, three-point buzzer beater by Wiggins from far behind the line fell through to give UIW a 16-15 lead, and momentum, after ten minutes. Bowie led the team with five points by the end of the frame. Henry and Wiggins led the charge on the glass, each collecting two rebounds.

QTR 2 (30-29): Another quick start from the Cardinals grew the lead to six, 21-15, but SHSU responded with an 11-2 run to reclaim the lead. All momentum shifted back to UIW thanks to a remarkable flash of skill, versatility and toughness from Omozee. The freshman went off on a 7-0 run by herself, knocking down a mid-range jumper, hitting both free throws after drawing a foul on a rebound, and splashing home a three ball from the top of the key. UIW held the lead she produced through the end of the half and led by one (30-29) going into the break. Omozee led the team at the half with nine points, while Bowie led the team with five boards. UIW shot a perfect eight for eight from the line through 20 minutes of play.

QTR 3 (41-56): The Cardinals suffered a dry spell for the first 5:06 of the third quarter. The constant pressure from the Bearkat press yielded some turnovers and the Cardinals couldn't seem to find twine on their open looks. Strong concentration from the foul stripe kept UIW in the game as the team went 9-10 from the line to hold the deficit at 15 entering the final quarter. Robinson made all four of her free throws and Speer went two for two at the line, and made a layup, to pace the offense. UIW missed its first free throw of the afternoon with 47 seconds left in the quarter, ending a 17 for 17 run through the first 29:13 of play.

QTR 4 (56-76): Sam Houston scored 15 of the first 20 points in the fourth quarter to establish a considerable deficit for the Cardinals. Wiggins scored five points to lead the team, but UIW was unable to mount a comeback.

HEAR FROM COACH SMITH
"I thought we played really well in the first half. We played our game, aggressive on both ends of the floor. Unfortunately, we're still working on being consistent throughout the game."

UP NEXT
The Cardinals head back out onto the road to face Central Arkansas, in Conway, Arkansas, on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. (CT) 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.

FOLLOW ALONG
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