SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team opens the 2020-21 season on the road against TCU (Nov.25) at 1 p.m. (CT) at Schollmaier Arena.
 
UIW then takes on UTEP (Nov. 28) at 2 p.m. (CT) at the Don Haskins Center on Saturday.
 
TIPOFF COVERAGE
GAME NOTES WEEK 1
TCU

• Watch/Listen: Big 12 Now / KTCU
  • Ron Thunlin (PxP), Mike Peterson (color)
• Live stats: GoFrogs.com/wbbstats  

UTEP

• Watch/Listen: CUSA.tv / 600 ESPN El Paso
• Live stats: SIDEARM Stats

QUOTING COACH DOW
 "TCU is a very tough opponent to open the season with. They're similar to us in that they have a lot of new players on their roster. [TCU] was an outstanding team last season winning 20 games and of course being from the Big 12 conference. A coach is never going to feel like they are totally ready going into the regular season. I have been encouraged with what we have seen at practice the last couple days as well as our intrasquad scrimmage. I think there will be a lot of value in us going up against an opponent instead of guarding each other on an everyday basis."
 
THE CARDINALS

• The Cardinals' 2020-21 squad features 11 new members including three transfers and eight freshmen, returning one starter, one redshirt and three others.
• The Cardinals lost four of its starters and eight letterwinners with a roster that graduated seven seniors last season.
•  During his first year at the helm, Coach Dow, led the team to what would have been its first appearance in the Southland Conference tournament. The 14-15 overall record (10-10 SLC) marked the best record for the team since moving up to Division I in 2013-14. The +9 turnaround from the previous season tied for sixth-most improved team in the nation and also tied Dow for first in first-year head coaches with the most improved record.
•  The 2019-20 campaign was a season of firsts for the Cardinals that saw the team's first SLC Conference tournament berth. UIW defeated SFA at home ,60-52, overtaking the Lumberjacks for the first time in school history. Senior, Imani Robinson, was named first team All-Conference at the conclusion of the season, marking the first time a Cardinal earned the accolade.
• Kara Speer is the only senior on the squad and the only returning starter (started every game for the Cardinals last season). The senior played a crucial role for the squad averaging the most time on the court at 33.4 minutes per game. She concluded the 2019-20 season as one of the top rebounders in the SLC (No. 5) averaging 7.1 rebounds per game (2.0 Off., 5.1 Def. – also ranked No. 5 in the league). Her contribution on offense from beyond the arc will aid the team this season, she shot 34 percent from 3-point range (among the top-20 percentages in the league last season), averaging at least 1.1 3-pointer per contest.

 
THE HORNED FROGS

• UIW trails TCU in head to heads. The last time the two teams faced each other was back in 2016 in Fort Worth where the Horned Frogs were victorious 88-40.
• TCU finished second in the Big 12 last season behind reigning national champions Baylor with a 22-7 overall record and 13-5 in conference play.
• The Horned Frogs were set to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament before the tournament was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• TCU returns an experienced roster with eight upperclassman and just four freshmen on the squad .
• The Horned Frogs' top returner this year is Lauren Heard who has been named to the 2021 Nancy Lieberman Award Watchlist and the notable 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Watchlist as well as the All-Big 12 Preseason Team. Last season, Heard earned All-Big 12 honors for her performance throughout the 2019-20 season.

 
THE MINERS

• This is UIW's first matchup in program history against UTEP.
• UTEP was selected to finish sixth in Conference USA.
• The Miners return El Paso native, Katia Gallegos. The sophomore was named to the 2021 Nancy Lieberman Award Watchlist and selected for the C-USA Preseason Team.
• During her rookie campaign, Gallegos led the team in assists (154), assists per game (5.1), steals (52) and steals per game (1.7). Her 154 assists last season led the conference. She was the third-best scorer for the Miners averaging 9.2 points per game.
• UTEP averaged 71.0 points per game while holding opponents to 65.3 points last season. They outrebounded their opponents by a margin of 3.1, while forcing an average 19.1 turnovers per game.
• UTEP won its first game of the C-USA tournament against Florida Atlantic, 95-67, in their final game of the season before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.

 
 
FOLLOW ALONG
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.