CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team traveled to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) for a non-conference matchup on Sunday, Jan. 9. The Cardinals fell to the Islanders, 62-43.

"Coming off a long layoff, coupled with several players being out 10 days due to COVID protocols, certainly wasn't ideal and we anticipated it be a little rough at times," head coach Jeff Dow said. "We were able to get eleven players double figure minutes so there was some benefit in that. Today was probably more about knocking the rust off and getting acclimated again to the pace and intensity of a Division I basketball game."
 
Destiny Terrell led the team with 12 points. Tiana Gardner added nine points and Kamryn Gibson finished with five steals.
 
Down 18-4, the Cardinals began to press, forcing back-to-back turnovers from the Islanders as UIW went on to score eight points in the last minute and a half of the first quarter. Terrell, Starr Omozee and Jamie Means put the Cardinals within six points (18-12) heading into the second frame. TAMUCC answered, taking a 37-20 advantage at halftime.

"We knew today would be a challenge for a variety of reasons," Dow said. "A&M-Corpus Christi is a physical, well-coached team led by two veteran standouts in Alecia Westbrook and Makinna Serrata. Their impact on the game was significant."
 
The Islanders extended the lead to 25-points in the third to ultimately win the game.  

"It will be a quick turnaround to play them again on Tuesday night but that's how it's going to be when we're playing every Thursday and Saturday during conference play," Dow said. 
 
UP NEXT
UIW hosts the Islanders at the McDermott Center on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 6 p.m. CT for the last non-conference matchup before Southland Conference play begins on Saturday, Jan. 15.
 
FOLLOW ALONG 
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