EDINBURG, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team fell to future Western Athletic Conference foe the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), 62-57, on Saturday.
 
Jaaucklyn Moore paced the Cardinals with a career-high 30 points. Destiny Jenkins led UIW in rebounds with six.
 
"Obviously a terrific offensive performance by Jaaucklyn Moore but clearly we need to have other people step up consistently so we're more balanced," head coach Jeff Dow said.
 
Moore finished the first quarter with 11 points as the Cardinals chipped away at an early 11-2 deficit to end the frame within four points (17-13). With two minutes left in the second quarter, Jenkins nailed a 3-pointer as the Cardinals took a 31-29 lead. UIW held the Vaqueros to three points to end the half up 33-32.
 
"We were really proud of the effort we played with today," Dow said. "We got off to a really slow start in falling behind by nine less than five minutes into the game. But we turned it around on both ends of the floor to take the lead going into halftime."
 
UTRGV regained its advantage in the third as the Vaqueros took a 41-37 edge with four minutes left in the quarter. Hanna Wheeler nailed a big trey to bring the Cardinals back within three points, but UTRGV held on to end the third with a 49-45 lead. UIW came within one point with three minutes left in the game following a layup from Moore, but the Vaqueros ultimately won the game, 62-57.
 
"Defensively, we did a really good job taking away their threes but the number of free throws they got is what ultimately did us in," Dow said. "In contrast, we had three quarters where we only shot two free throws combined. All in all, considering we had the ball inside of 20 seconds with a chance to tie or take the lead on the road, you can't be too disappointed with that."
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will be back at the McDermott Center on Wednesday at 6 p.m. against North American University. Tickets can be purchased at UIW tickets.
 
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 Instagram @uiw_womenshoops.