NATCHITOCHES, La.  – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team heads to Louisiana for its first Southland Conference matchup on the road against Northwestern State starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday night at Prather Coliseum.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Watch: Demon TV
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
 
SERIES
The Lady Demons lead the overall series 4-2, however, the Cardinals have won the last two matchups.
 
CARDINALS IN THE SOUTHLAND
UIW boasts the fourth-best defense in the conference, holding opponents to 58.5 points per game. While shooting from the free-throw line, Cardinals are shooting 71.2 percent, which ranks fourth-best in the league. Senior guard Imani Robinson's 12.2 points per game ranks 12th in the SLC, while Kara Speer's 7.5 rebounds currently ranks fifth-best. Speer's 5.7 defensive rebounds per game is tied for second best in the Southland.
 
SHARP AS A SPEER
Junior guard Kara Speer, who has started every game for the Cardinals this season, has two double-doubles on the season. Speer is the only Cardinal with a double-double this season (twice) and on both occasions, she has matched a career high. Her first was against St. Thomas (Dec. 14) where 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.
 
FRESHMAN EMERGES
Freshman Brittney Stafford emerged as an integral part of the team in three tough road games. The 5'3 guard shot 41.7 percent from beyond the arc and leads the team in threes made this season with 19. She led the team with 13 points against Power 5 opponent, Kansas State, shooting 55.6 percent from the field and going 3-6 beyond the arc. 
 
DOUBLE DIGITS
Four Cardinals scored in double-digits twice this season in the wins over St. Thomas (TX) and Paul Quinn. The Cardinals also had three players score in double figures on three occasions this season, in matchups against Schreiner, Texas A&M International and Nicholls. UIW has won each time three or more players score in double figures.
 
BIG WIN
UIW's win over Schreiner (Nov. 5) was their largest margin of victory since 2017, when it beat Southeastern Louisiana 95-56 on Jan. 19, 2017. The team also stole the ball 18 times, which is tied for third-most steals in a single game in program history.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
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. UIW ranks first in the Southland Conference for fewest turnovers.
 
RECORD BOOK ROBINSON
Senior Imani Robinson has 1,075 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 ninth in career points (1,075) and offensive rebounds (169), and ranks tenth in games started (76). She also is in the career record book at UIW with 64 blocks (3rd), 307 free throws made (5th), 414 free throws attempted (7th) and 949 field goals made (8th).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

• Northwestern State is 4-9 on the season and 1-3 in conference play, winning their most recent matchup, their first SLC victory against Houston Baptist, 69-60.
• The Lady Demons are led by senior guard Kira Bonner, who is averaging 14.1 points per game.
• Senior forwards Jocelyn Scott and Victoria Miller are both bringing down 4.8 rebounds per game.
• The Lady Demons are averaging 59.6 points per game, while shooting 32.6 percent from the field. They're surrendering an average of 70.7 points per game.
• NSU leads the Southland averaging 14.6 rebounds per game while maintaining a +4 turnover margin.

 
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.