SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team returns to the McDermott Center to host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders at 2 p.m. (CT) Saturday.

UIW found its groove on the road against Lamar earlier in the week, defeating the Cardinals 67-48 in their largest margin of victory in conference play both at home and on the road. The win boosted UIW over Lamar in conference standings to sixth, having been tied with them prior to the matchup.

GAME COVERAGE

Watch/Listen: Cardinals Sports Network

Talent: Scott Mandziara

Live stats: SIDEARM Stats

 

CARDINALS IN THE SOUTHLAND

UIW has maintained the fourth-best defense in the conference, limiting opponents to 59.3 points per game. The Cardinals are shooting 71.7 percent from the free-throw line, moving the team up to third-best in the league. Senior guard Imani Robinson's 13.1 points per game leads the Cardinals and ranks eighth in the SLC, meanwhile her 42.6 percent accuracy from the field puts her in the top 20. Junior guard Kara Speer's 7.3 rebounds currently rank fifth in the league, and her 5.2 defensive boards moved her up in the leaderboard to fourth best.

TRIPLE THREAT

Three Cardinals rank among the best 3-point shooters in the league - Kara Speer, Macy Ray and Brittney Stafford. Speer's 34.8 percent accuracy is 11th in the SLC, while her 1.0 3-pointers per game is ranked 24th best. Stafford, a freshman, is shooting 32.8 percent from beyond the arc, which rates 16th-best in the league. Ray's 29.1 percent from three moved up to No. 20 in the SLC, while her 1.4 3-pointers per game is ranked No. 15.

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 1,154 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 (1,154) and field goals attempted (1,014), while holding a fourth best in free throws made and attempted (338-447). She is also in the career record book at UIW with 81 starts (9th), 68 blocks (2nd) and 183 offensive boards (6th).

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK

The Cardinals average 17.9 turnovers per game, which ranks fourth-best in the Southland, they also have committed the least amount of turnovers this season. UIW's five turnovers against Colorado State (Nov. 26)—committing zero in the first half—was the fewest number of turnovers in a game since the program moved to Division I. The five turnovers rank third fewest in a single game in the nation. The last time the team turned the ball over fewer than 10 times was at Houston Baptist (Feb. 28, 2018), when it gave up eight. The previous lowest number of turnovers in a game was at home against Central Arkansas (Feb. 13, 2016), when the Cardinals recorded six.

SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS

• Texas A&M-Corpus Christi holds a 12-6 overall record and is 6-2 in Southland Conference play, which puts them in fourth in current standings.
• TAMU-CC ranks just above UIW in scoring defense, holding opponents to 57.2 points per game, and limiting them to 36.6 percent from the paint and 27.3 percent from 3-point range.
• The Islanders lead the Southland in defensive rebounds with 28.1 per game and is second in total rebounds, averaging 39.7 boards each game. TAMU-CC has three players among the top rebounders in the conference in Alexes Bryant with 6.6 per game (No. 11) Emma Young with 5.9 per game (No.13) and Dalesia Booth with 5.5 per game (No.18).
• Bryant, a senior forward, is averaging 12.6 points per game (No. 10 SLC) while shooting at a 50.5 percent accuracy in the paint
• Booth, a senior guard, is putting up 12.5 points per game (No. 11 SLC) scoring at 47 percent from the field which ranks tenth best in the league. The senior was named Southland Conference player of the Week on week 3.
• The Islanders lead the league in blocked shots, averaging 4.37 per game. Bryant leads the squad with 1.5 blocks per game, a third best in the Southland. Booth is not far behind, averaging 1.3 blocks each game.

STAY TUNED

For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook.

Follow the team on Twitter @UIWWBB and on Instagram @uiw_womenshoops.