NATCHITOCHES, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team claimed its second Southland Conference win on the road, 56-47, on Wednesday night against Northwestern State inside Prather Coliseum. 
 
"We're really excited to be coming home with a win and getting a sweep on this road trip," said head coach Jeff Dow. "It is definitely a testament to how hard our squad is playing on the defensive end to limit our opponents to 47 points on their home court in successive games."
 
"Given the circumstances, we just can't say enough about the mental and physical toughness we've shown in these past two games. It certainly wasn't pretty on the offensive end in the first half tonight but fortunately, we were outstanding defensively and kept them off of the [offensive] boards."
 
Freshman Destiny Terrell led the Cardinals for the first time this season, scoring a season-high 14 points, going 6-for-11 from the field while adding one steal and two rebounds. Destiny Jenkins contributed with a career-high 11 points and six rebounds. 
 
UIW (4-4, 2-1) and NSU (0-14, 0-9) were off to a slow start in a low scoring first quarter on both sides of the court with both teams in single-digit scoring and shooting under 20%. 
 
Northwestern opened the second quarter on a 4-0 run to tie the game, 7-7. That marked the last time the score was tied as UIW took off on a 9-2 run to pull away. A 6-2 run by the Lady Demons to close out the half made it a two-possession game heading into the break, with the Cardinals ahead 18-13. 
 
UIW's sharpshooting in the third quarter from all around the court was the boost it needed to get ahead. The Cardinals shot 54.5% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 45.5% from the charity line. The scoring in the period was an all-around team effort with six Cardinals contributing, led by Brittney Stafford's five points, as the black and red led, 38-27, heading into the final stretch.  
 
Despite the Lady Demons' best efforts to get within striking distance of the Cardinals, the red and black managed to answer accordingly each time. Northwestern cut into UIW's lead getting within two possessions with 1:31 left on the clock. The Cardinals closed out the game on a 5-2 run to claim their second win of the week, 56-47. 
 
NOTABLES 

• Three Cardinals scored in double-digits: Terrell (14), Jenkins (11) and Speer (10). 
• Jenkins' 11 points and six rebounds were both career highs for the sophomore. 
• UIW outrebounded NSU 42 to 32 while limiting the Lady Demons to just 23.5% from beyond-the-arc.  
• Jaaucklyn Moore dished out a career-high seven assists.  

  
QUOTING COACH DOW 
"Destiny Terrell pretty much carried us in the first half offensively. In the second half, the ball movement was much better, and we started attacking the paint. And as a result, we got to the free-throw line 14 times after having zero attempts in the first half. We also got better looks from three and just in general, so it's not surprising that we shot it as well as we did. Another big factor was that we were much more disciplined in the fourth quarter in limiting them to two free throws after giving up 15 combined in the second and third quarters."
 
 
UP NEXT 
The Cardinals return to the Nest to host New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 12. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT at the McDermott Center.
 
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.