HAMMOND, La. – Following back-to-back road wins, the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball looks to continue its winning ways against Southeastern Louisiana at 1 p.m. (CT) Saturday at University Center.
 
UIW (10-10, 6-5 SLC) and SLU (9-11, 6-5 SLC) are tied for fifth in Southland Conference standings heading into the matchup.
 
TIPOFF COVERAGE
Watch: Southeastern Sports Network
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ROAD TO CONFERENCE
On the hunt for their first Southland Conference tournament appearance, road games have been crucial this season as UIW has picked up four of its six SLC wins away from home. The Cardinals took down two of the top-ranked teams in the league, Abilene Christian (Feb. 1) in a narrow 71-70 win and most recently Sam Houston State (Feb. 5), which was tied for first heading into the game.
 
UIW IN THE SOUTHLAND
UIW has maintained the fourth-best defense in the conference, limiting opponents to 60.8 points per game. The Cardinals improved to 30.4 percent accuracy from beyond the arc, which stands fifth-best in the league. UIW also has the No. 5 rebounding defense in the league holding opponents to 36.5 per contest.
 
CARDINALS ON THE LEADERBOARDS
Senior guard Imani Robinson's 14.1 points per game leads the Cardinals and ranks sixth in the SLC. Meanwhile, her 40.6 percent accuracy from the field puts her among the top 25. Junior guard Kara Speer's 7.4 rebounds, 5.2 defensive boards are fifth on the Southland leaderboard. Seniors Robinson and Lunden Henry swat away 0.8 and 0.7 shots per game respectively, putting them up among the top-15 for blocks in the conference. Victoria Jackson averages 1.7 steals per contest, putting her along with Robinson's 1.6 steals among the top 15 in the league.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
The Cardinals were able to fend off Sam Houston State, a team that forced an NCAA ninth-best 24.2 turnovers per game, to just 17 for another road game. Earlier this season, 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.
 
TRIPLE THREAT
Three Cardinals continue to rank among the best 3-point shooters in the league - Kara Speer, Macy Ray and Brittney Stafford. Speer's 37.5 percent accuracy is now seventh in the SLC, while her 1.1 3-pointers per game are tied for 20th in conference with Stafford. Stafford, a freshman, is shooting 30.6 percent from beyond the arc, which rates 19th-best in the league. Ray's 31.0 percent from three moved up to 18th in the SLC, while her 1.6 3-pointers per contest rank No. 14.
 
RECORD BOOK ROBINSON
Earlier this season, senior guard Imani Robinson recorded her 1,000th career point against St. Thomas. She is the first to reach the milestone since Ifunanya Mora (2010-14). Her 1,223 career points and 1,074 attempted field goals rank seventh-best in program history, while her 190 offensive rebounds rate sixth best. The 5-11 guard also is in the career record book at UIW for her 356 made free throws (2nd) and 476 attempted (3rd) as well as 69 blocks (2nd).
 
DOUBLE DIGITS
UIW has had three or more Cardinals score in double-figures on eight separate occasions this season. The team is 8-0 in those games. The Cardinals are 10-4 when Imani Robinson scores in double figures, every time UIW has won, Robinson scored in double digits.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

• Southeastern Louisiana goes into the matchup on a four-game winning streak with wins against McNeese, Northwestern State, Central Arkansas and most recently New Orleans.
• The Lions have the fifth-best field goal percentage in the league, shooting at a 40.4 percent rate.
• SLU is also strong from beyond the arc shooting 32.5 percent.
• Senior guard Celia Sterling leads SLU in scoring with a team best 13.7 points per game, which ranks seventh in the league. Two other Lions, Jyar Francis and Alexius Horne rank among the top 25 in scoring in the SLC with 11.0 and 10.3 points per game respectively.
• Horne also ranks tenth best in the Southland with 1.9 steals per game.

 
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.