LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana -- The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team battled back from a double-digit deficit to defeat McNeese, 68-66, Wednesday night at the H&HP Complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana. UIW received key contributions in the clutch from nearly every Cardinal as they outscored McNeese, 19-8 in the fourth quarter to begin Southland Conference play 1-0.
 
 
NOTABLES

• Junior forward Lunden Henry produced her first career double-double in Division I. Putting up a season-high 14 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes.
• She tied her season-best with six offensive rebounds tonight, leading UIW to 14 total offensive boards on the night.
• Junior guard Angelica Wiggins led the team with 16 points, her fifth double digit point performance of the season and third in her last four games.
• She hit two threes in the game, giving her seven games this year with multiple made threes.
• The Cardinals forced a season-high 27 turnovers off a12 steals.
• Wiggins led the team with a career-high three steals.
• Freshman guard Macy Ray and junior guard Imani Robinson each finished with two steals in a hard-nosed defensive effort.
• Robinson delivered her third consecutive game with double digit points, finishing with 13. She added six rebounds, four offensive, and two assists in the effort.
• Sophomore guard Liz Holter also collected two steals, including the game sealing steal on an inbounds pass under the McNeese basket with five seconds left.
• Holter played an inspired game, drawing three charges and hitting a clutch three ball in the third quarter to keep the game within reach.
• Freshman forward Starr Omozee punished defenders in the second half, where she put up seven of her nine total points.
• She delivered just her fourth made three of the season with 5:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, drawing the Cardinals within four.
• The freshman led the team with two blocks as well.
• UIW finished with 13 assists as a team, led by Ray, Robinson, Omozee, and sophomore guard Kara Speer, all with two each.
• The team effort culminated in nine different Cardinals scoring points, nine recording at least one assist and all 11 Cardinals on the court grabbing at least one rebound.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
QTR 1 (17-13): The Cardinals started the game off with high energy on the defensive end. The press proved difficult to break as UIW forced nine first quarter turnovers, leading to eight points for the offense. UIW employed a balanced attack in the opening frame as five different Cardinals got a bucket. After 10 minutes, Robinson and Wiggins led the team with five points each and UIW led by four.

QTR 2 (30-34): McNeese found its way through the press in the second quarter, shooting 53.3 percent (8-15) from the field, adding up to a 21 point period. UIW continued to spread the ball around on offense as seven different Cardinals registered points. By the half, UIW had forced seven more turnovers, but could only convert those into points twice, trailing by four at the horn. Wiggins led the team with seven points, Lunden Henry paced the team with four rebounds, three off the offensive glass.

QTR 3 (49-58): The Cowgirls opened up the second half with a 10-0 run lasting just over three minutes. UIW countered with some strong bench play from Holter, but McNeese stayed on top throughout. Lunden Henry reached double digit points for the fourth time this year, but McNeese led by nine at the buzzer.

QTR 4 (68-66): UIW found a new level of intensity in the fourth, driving hard to the basket, drawing fouls and sprawling all over the court for loose balls. The Cardinals put themselves in the bonus with 6:15 left and made McNeese pay, finishing the quarter going 8-12 from the line including the final two points of the game. Robinson and Lunden took over play in the middle of the quarter, allowing UIW to go on a 6-0 run and claim its first lead of the half (66-64). Free throws and tremendous defense locked down the remainder of the game for UIW as Holter grabbed her second steal of the night with just five seconds remaining to seal the victory. Lunden Henry was a menace in the paint throughout the fourth putting up four points and grabbing four critical rebounds in the quarter. Robinson led the team on offense in the clutch, finishing the quarter with six points while shooting 2-4 from the field, recording one assist, one steal and an offensive rebound in the final 5:42 of the game.

HEAR FROM COACH SMITH
"Really proud of the entire team and their poise in the second half. Being down 14 and fighting back to win is hard in this league and even harder on the road. Very pleased with their fight and heart."
 
UP NEXT
UIW stays in Louisiana for a meeting with the defending SLC tournament champions, Nicholls, on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Following that, the team will have a full week before playing in their conference home opener against Sam Houston State, next Saturday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG
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