SAN ANTONIO – Junior Starr Omozee was at the wheel in Thursday night's 69-63 win over UTSA, driving 16 points to the basket to lead the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team to victory.  
 
The Cardinals picked up their first win of the season in their home opener against the Roadrunners, gaining momentum each quarter that would eventually lead to victory.  
 
"This might seem odd to say this early in the season, but this was a big win for our program. To have four freshmen play such a significant role, two from the San Antonio area (Brenna Perez and Myra Bell), and knock off your local rival and a Conference USA opponent at that, is huge for our confidence going forward." 
 
UIW scored on its first possession off a jump shot by Omozee. Despite the Cardinal's early momentum, the teams went shot-for-shot with four ties in the quarter. The Roadrunners went on a 4-0 run late, putting them ahead, 18-17, going into the second quarter.  
 
Brittney Stafford's driving layup at the start of the second quarter got the ball rolling for UIW. UTSA responded by taking back the lead and keeping UIW at arm's length as the clock wound down in the first half, but the Cardinal's 5-2 run, capped by Omozee's buzzer-beating pull-up jump shot, put UIW ahead at the break.  
 
UIW's stout third-quarter defense held UTSA to just 31 percent from the field and zero percent from beyond the arc. Myra Bell came off the bench to put up six points in the quarter to help the red and black outscore the Roadrunners, 22-17. 
 
UIW's fourth quarter push, that put them ahead by as much as 10 points three times in the period, only let UTSA within three at any one time as the Cardinals clinched the 69-63 victory.  
 
NOTABLES 

• Three Cardinals scored in double-figures: Omozee (16), Brittney Stafford (11) and Myra Bell (11). 
• UIW outscored UTSA in the paint, 36-30; the Cardinals also shot better from the field (44.1 percent) and from 3-point range (26.3 percent). 
• Brenna Perez (5 pts), Omozee (16 pts), Stafford (11 pts) and Bell (11 pts) all recorded season highs in points scored. 

  
QUOTING COACH DOW 
 
"First off, I want to thank our athletic administration and our sports medicine team for their efforts in making this game possible. Everything went very smooth from start to finish, and we are very appreciative for them pulling this off." 
  
"I am extremely proud of how far this team has come in a very short period of time. I thought we showed a lot of resilience really in both halves.  We were scuffling a bit in the first half, but the biggest lead they ever got was four points. In the fourth quarter, we got it up to a 12-point lead and it seemed to disappear in a hurry, but we made some big shots and free throws down the stretch to get some separation at the end. We literally spent time on late game situations for the first time in practice yesterday, but I thought we executed well down the stretch, especially on the defensive end." 
  
"Starr Omozee was tough again tonight in coming away with 16 points and seven rebounds. Kara Speer was solid in pulling down seven rebounds. Brenna Perez was very efficient with her three assists, zero turnovers and making two of the three from the field. Jaaucklyn Moore gave us a lift with six defensive rebounds from her guard position and two clutch free throws late in the game. And Myra Bell was very productive with her 11 points on just six shots in only 13 minutes of playing time. In reality, everyone contributed to this win and gave us something positive." 
 
UP NEXT 
The Cardinals play game two of the three-game homestand against Sul Ross on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. (CT). For the UIW home game policies, click here.  
 
STAY TUNED
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