NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team faces a tough challenge on the road against SFA on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. (CT) at the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: ESPN3
Listen: Cardinals Sports Network
            Talent: Scott Mandziara
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
 
CARDINALS IN THE SOUTHLAND
UIW boasts the fourth-best defense in the conference, holding opponents to 59.5 points per game. The Cardinals are shooting 71.4 percent from the free-throw line, which ranks fourth best in the league. Senior guard Imani Robinson's 13.6 points per game leads the Cardinals and ranks seventh in the SLC. Junior guard Kara Speer's 7.4 rebounds currently rank fifth in the league, while her 5.3 defensive boards rate fourth best.
 
TRIPLE THREAT
UIW guards Macy Ray and Brittany Stafford rank among the top shooters from three-point range in the Southland. Stafford, a freshman, is shooting 34.5 percent from beyond the arc, going 19-55, which ranks 13th best in the league. Ray's 31.9 percent from three is at No. 19 in the SLC, but her 1.6 3-pointers per game is ranked No. 13.
 
JACKSON STEALS THE SHOW
In the win over McNeese, senior guard Victoria Jackson recorded three steals on three consecutive possessions and turned two of those turnovers into layups at the other end. Jackson leads the team in steals with 22 on the season, averaging 1.8 per game, which is 13th best in the league.
 
BUZZER-BEATING BIRDS
The Cardinals' two conference wins against Nicholls at home and Northwestern State on the road were both buzzer beaters. Imani Robinson's scoop layup with one second left and a 3-pointer that rimmed out gave UIW its first SLC win of the season against Nicholls, 53-51. The Cardinals earned their first road win in overtime at Northwestern State with a last-second shot under the basket by Lunden Henry for a 69-67 win.
 
SHARP AS A SPEER
Junior guard Kara Speer, who has started every game for the Cardinals this season, has three double-doubles on the season. Speer is the only Cardinal with a double-double this season and on all occasions, she has matched a career high in points and rebounds. Her first was against St. Thomas (Dec. 14) when she scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. She recorded her second against Paul Quinn (Dec. 28), putting up 11 points and setting a new career-high with 12 rebounds. The most recent double-double against Northwestern State (Jan. 8) tied career highs with 16 points and 12 boards.
 
DOUBLE DIGITS
UIW has had three or more Cardinals score in double-figures on seven separate occasions this season. The team is 7-0 in those games.
 
RECORD BOOK ROBINSON
Senior Imani Robinson has 1,131 career points and is the first Cardinal to reach the 1,000-career point milestone since Ifunanya Mora (2010-14). She scored her 1,000th point this season against St. Thomas, where she led the team with 19 points. The 5-11 guard ranks eighth in career points (1,131) and field goals attempted (994), while holding a fourth best in free throws made and attempted (332-438). She is also in the career record book at UIW with 79 starts (9th), 68 blocks (2nd) and 179 offensive boards (6th).
 
SCOUTING THE LADYJACKS

• SFA holds a 12-3 record overall and 5-1 in conference their sole SLC loss handed to them by New Orleans, 53-50, on Jan. 4.
• The Ladyjacks are coming off a big win against Central Arkansas (Jan. 15), defeating the Sugar Bears 102-41, with six 'Jacks scoring in double-figures, while holding UCA scoreless from beyond the arc.
• The 'Jacks boast the best defense in the league, holding opponents to 54.6 points per game while putting up an average of 73.5 points (No. 3 SLC) themselves, shooting 44.9 percent (No. 2 SLC) from the field.
• SFA has three players among the top scorers in the Southland in Stephanie Visscher averaging 14.8 (No. 4), Aiyana Johnson with 13.1 per game (No. 9) and Marissa Banfield putting up 11.5 per game (No. 18).
• Visscher, a 6-0 forward, boasts the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league at 1.7. The sophomore is also bringing down 5.5 defensive rebounds per games which is No. 3 in the conference.
• Johnson, the sophomore forward/center, averages a team best 8.5 rebounds per game, which also ranks second best in the Southland.
• Junior guard Banfield, puts up an average 3.1 3-pointers per game, which leads the league.

 
STAY TUNED 
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