SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word fell 63-56 to cross-town rival UTSA on Monday night at the Convocation Center.
In their first matchup against a Division I opponent of the season, the Cardinals struggled to score in the first half of the game. The Roadrunners had the Cardinals on their heels, out-rebounding them on the boards and holding them to 28 percent from the field going into the break.
The Roadrunners would go on to score 13 points in the third quarter, extending their lead to 24 points.
The Cardinals, however, wouldn't go down without a fight, making a final push in the fourth quarter. With the clock winding down, Macy Ray pulled back for a three, cutting the UTSA lead to 60-54, the smallest lead since the first quarter.
UIW held UTSA to its lowest-scoring quarter, putting up 20 points to their six. A last-minute fast-break play came when Starr Omozee pulled down a rebound and handed the ball off to Speer for a layup, cutting into the lead again. Though the Cardinals came close, they didn't have enough time to complete the comeback, falling 63-56.
QUOTING COACH DOW
"Obviously pleased with the effort we played with the last 20 to 25 minutes of the game. Obviously tremendous effort in the fourth quarter, you know, to be down 24 late in the third quarter and all of a sudden get it down to six. I'm really impressed with the fact that we didn't give up, we played harder. The lesson being learned is you cant dig yourself a 22 point hole in the first quarter, it's tough to overcome that. From there each quarter got better defensively. It was encouraging that we got to the line 21 times and the fourth quarter was great on both sides of the court."
NOTABLES
- Sophomore Macy Ray led the team with 10 points, three rebounds and two steals.
- Victoria Jackson scored a career-high six points and matched a career-high two steals.
- Brittney Stafford scored a career-high four points.
- Sophomore Starr Omozee had nine points, adding five rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to the McDermott Center to host Texas A&M-International in the UIW School Day Game at 11 a.m. (CT).
