Box Score  SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team closed out the regular season with a 76-69 overtime loss against Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon at the McDermott Center.
 
NOTABLES

• Macy Ray led the team with a career-high 23 points going 7-14 from 3-point range. The seven made threes are a single game high for UIW this season and are tied for third at UIW. This marks the first time the sophomore has scored 20+ points this season but has scored in double-figures on 11 separate occasions.
• Imani Robinson recorded her first double-double of the season with 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. The 16 points marks the sixth consecutive game the senior has scored in double-figures. The senior also dished out six assists, while swiping the ball twice and blocking two shots as well.
• The Cardinals outscored the Wildcats in the paint 22-21 and from beyond the arc 12-8.
• UIW turned the ball over just 11 times to ACU's 17 times while also stealing the ball eight to their four and had three blocks to their one.

 
UIW concluded the regular season with a 14-15 overall record and 10-10 in the Southland Conference to finish tied for sixth in the standings.
 
It was a close game where Macy Ray's accuracy from 3-point range kept the Cardinals alive, with the sophomore scored a career-high seven 3-pointers, with five coming in the first half. Imani Robinson, Angelia Wiggins and Ray each hit a 3-pointer, but the Cardinals trailed the Wildcats going into the second quarter, 19-10.
 
Robinson hit a jumper in the first possession of the second quarter followed by a pair of free-throws to cut into the Wildcats lead. The Cardinals then went on a 14-8 scoring run to close out the half, highlighted by Ray's four 3-pointers to make it a one-possession game at the break.
 
Ray opened the second half with her sixth 3-pointer in the game, which was followed by two made shots under the basket by Victoria Jackson for UIW to take its first lead since the first quarter. The Cardinals sent the Wildcats to the free-throw line nine times and surrendered seven points on foul shots and trailed by one heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Cardinals opened the fourth quarter on an 11-5 run thanks to a trio of threes from Ray, Jackson and Kara Speer. Wiggins sank a mid-range jumper with a minute to go to increase UIW's lead to 59-56. The Cardinals had a chance to ice the game but couldn't convert from the free-throw line and the Wildcats took advantage, drilling a late three to send the game into overtime.
 
The Wildcats knocked down a couple of free-throws followed by a pair of 3-pointers early in the extra period to push their lead to 71-62 with less than three minutes remaining.  The Cardinals battled back with free throws from Robinson and a three from Kara Speer, but the Wildcats sank their free throws late to secure the 76-69 victory in overtime.
 
QUOTING COACH DOW
On the overall result…
"Disappointed obviously that we didn't find a way to close out the game to get the win. But I still feel like there were a lot of positives to take away from the game even in defeat. We got off to a very slow start in the first quarter falling behind 19-10 at the end of the period. In the past that didn't bode well for us so it's encouraging that we battled back in the second quarter to cut it to 3 going into halftime."
 
On facing ACU…
"ACU has arguably the most talented rotation in the league when you look at their top 7 players. It's not a fluke that they're 24-5 on the season and ranked in the top 10 in the nation in scoring at over 80 points per game. Plus, they're in the top 10 in 3-point field goal percentage and overall field goal percentage. At the end of regulation, we had held them to 59 points, 26% from 3, and 38% overall from the field. All well below their averages. Hopefully we can carry that type of effort defensively into our Thursday afternoon match-up with Nicholls in the conference tournament."
 
On Macy Ray…
"I thought Macy Ray had an outstanding game. To play over 43 minutes and have only one turnover is impressive. And obviously going 7-14 from 3 was phenomenal."
 
On Imani Robinson…
"Imani had another solid all-around game. Not only did she get a double-double with her points and rebounds, but she also chipped in with 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots."
 
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE TICKETS
To purchase tickets to see the Cardinals in action at the 2020 Hercules Tires Southland Conference Tournament, contact UIW Director of Ticketing Alma Lara at 210-805-3012 or aylara@uiwtx.edu.

Ticket Prices for the tournament are:
$60 – Includes tickets for all rounds of the SLC tournament
$25 – Per individual round
 
Tickets will be sold at the Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday (March 7) through the beginning of halftime of the men's 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.