SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team hosts New Orleans at 2 p.m. (CT) on Saturday afternoon at the McDermott Center.
 
UIW heads into the game following back-to-back buzzer-beater wins against Southland Conference opponents Nicholls and Northwestern State.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Watch/Listen: uiwcardinals.com/broadcast
Talent: Scott Mandziara
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
 
SERIES HISTORY
New Orleans leads the series 6-3. The Cardinals went 1-1 against the Privateers during the 2018-19 season, winning at home but fell on the road. 
 
CARDINALS IN THE SOUTHLAND
UIW moved up in Southland Conference rankings following the overtime win against Northwestern State and is now in fourth behind Stephen F. Austin. UIW boasts the fourth-best defense in the conference, holding opponents to 59.2 points per game. The Cardinals are shooting 71.7 percent from the free-throw line, which ranks fourth-best in the league. Senior guard Imani Robinson's 12.9 points per game ranks ninth in the SLC, while Kara Speer's 7.5 rebounds currently rank third. 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 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
Four Cardinals scored in double-digits three times this season in the wins over St. Thomas (TX) and Paul Quinn and most recently against Northwestern State.  The Cardinals also had three score in double figures on three different occasions this season, in matchups against Schreiner, Texas A&M International and Nicholls. UIW has won each time three or more Cardinals score in double figures.
 
RECORD BOOK ROBINSON
Senior Imani Robinson has 1,096 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 tenth in career points (1,096) and games started (77), while ranking eighth in field goals attempted (967). She also is in the career record book at UIW with 67 blocks (2nd), 312 free throws made (4th), 421 free throws attempted (6th) and 175 offensive rebounds (T-6th).
 
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.
 
SCOUTING THE PRIVATEERS

• New Orleans is 7-7 on the season and 3-2 in SLC play, with wins against Lamar, SFA and most recently, Central Arkansas.
• UNO is led by Rehema Franklin's 12.4 points per game, which ranks 12th in the Southland, while shooting 37.3 percent from the field and 25.9 from three.
• Franklin has been named SLC Player of the Week twice this season. The senior was named POW following a 33-point showing against North Dakota (Dec. 28).
• Defensively, 6-0 forward Asia Woods is averaging 6.2 boards per game.
• UNO is averaging 61.8 points per game, while shooting 37.1 percent from the field.

 
LAST GAME (W, 69-67 at Northwestern State):NATCHITOCHES, La. – Lunden Henry made a layup under the basket as the clock was running out in overtime to give the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team its first road win of the season on Wednesday night against Northwestern State, 69-67. For the second time this season, UIW went down to the wire with a Southland Conference opponent to win the game with just seconds left in the game. The Cardinals got off to a hot start winning the tipoff and wasting no time getting on the board first. UIW began to break away taking a 12-6 lead, but a series of missed shots allowed NSU to take the lead at the end of the first period, 19-16. Kara Speer's three to start the second quarter tied the game, and from there the Cardinals took control off a jumper from Imani Robinson to take back the lead. The Lady Demons made a 3-pointer from the wing, but the Cardinals would go into the half with a 34-29 lead. UIW kept the momentum in the third quarter, putting up 18 points, while holding NSU to 10. The Lady Demons fought their way back in the fourth quarter by going on a 9-0 run. They continued to chip away at UIW's lead making it a one-point game, but shots made by Robinson would then make it a two-possession game. NSU went on a 6-0 run to tie the game and fouls on both ends of the court sent the game into overtime. NSU got on the board first but a made free throw by Speer and two by Brittney Stafford and UIW would take the lead. The Lady Demons would not go down without a fight, managing to tie the game once again. Brittney Stafford's shot from three bounced off the board where Henry would go on to grab it and seal the win as the clock ran out.
 
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.