HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Senior guard Imani Robinson's career-high 31 points led the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team to a 77-74 victory against Sam Houston State on Wednesday night at Johnson Coliseum.
 
"This was another tremendous win for our program," said head coach Jeff Dow. "It was one thing to knock off Abilene Christian on Saturday, a preseason No. 1 pick in the Southland Conference, but to then go on the road again and beat a team like Sam Houston that was tied for first coming into tonight is a testament to how hard this team has worked at practice, once again doing a great job at executing the scouting report."
 
NOTABLES

• For the first time since moving up to Division I, UIW has four road wins in Southland Conference play, and has reached 10 wins overall, most since the 2016-17 campaign. It is also the first 10-win season since 2012-13.
• Each time UIW has led at the half against an SLC opponent this season, the Cardinals have secured the victory.
• The Cardinals outrebounded the Bearkats 45-29.
• Robinson's 31 points are a career high; she shot 10-21 from the field (a season high). The senior has scored in double figures in all of UIW's victories this season.

 
The Cardinals took an early 6-0 lead to start the game, but the Bearkats caught up quickly, going on an unanswered 5-0 run and eventually tying the game 8-8. A 3-pointer by Robinson then gave UIW an 11-8 lead only to be matched by Sam Houston. The Bearkats went up 14-13 with 26 seconds left in the first quarter, but Kara Speer snagged the advantage back when she sank a shot as time expired.
 
UIW maintained the pace in the second quarter and was relentless at the boards, bringing down 17 rebounds to Sam Houston's six and converting nine second-chance points. Victoria Jackson made a layup to close the half and the Cardinals went to the locker room with a 38-28 lead.
 
Macy Ray wasted no time extending UIW's lead with a 3-pointer to get the second half rolling. Midway through the second quarter, the Cardinals struggled to put away baskets, allowing the Bearkats to cut the lead to 46-39.
 
After the Cardinals regrouped during the media timeout, shots began to fall, starting with Robinson at the free throw line on back-to-back possessions. Alexis Henry and Jackson both scored in the paint and UIW took a 15-point lead, heading into the fourth quarter up 57-42.
 
Once again, Sam Houston cut the lead to single digits, but UIW responded with power on a 9-1 run, highlighted by Starr Omozee when she dribbled into the paint and drew the extra point. The Cardinals were now up 67-51 midway through the fourth quarter.
Still, the Bearkats would not go down without a fight as they put high pressure in the backcourt, keeping the ball on their side of the court and cutting into the Cardinal lead, making it a three-point game off a 5-0 run.
 
The score was 75-72 with 14 seconds remaining in the game. Sam Houston fouled in an attempt to win the ball back, sending Robinson to the free throw line twice within two seconds. Robinson's three made free throws -- part of her career-high 31-point performance -- sealed the 77-72 victory.
 
UP NEXT
Cardinals stay on the road as they take on Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT). SLU is also 6-5 in conference play.