LUBBOCK, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team saw its third Big 12 opponent this season in Texas Tech University. The Cardinals fell to the Red Raiders, 66-48, on Sunday afternoon at the United Supermarkets Arena.

"We were really encouraged by how well we played in the second half," head coach Jeff Dow said. "Obviously we were disappointed to be down like we were at halftime. It was great to see the response we had in every phase in the second half...offensively, defensively, rebounding, and just the overall energy that we had on the court and on the bench. To outscore them in both quarters of the second half, and by seven overall, was certainly a positive."
 
UIW shot 37 percent from the 3-point line as Myra Bell ended the day 4-5 from behind the arc to lead the Cardinals with 14 points.

"TTU came into the game leading the country in 3-point field goal percentage at 44 percent. Limiting them to 16 attempts was great to see, and to hold them to 19 percent was outstanding."
 
Bell knocked down a 3-pointer to get the Cardinals going before Chloe Storer and Destiny Terrell finished in the paint. Kaylee Howell subbed in and picked up three quick points as UIW ended the first quarter down, 27-10 to the Red Raiders. UIW scored five points in the second behind Terrell's back-to-back scoring possessions and a free throw from Nina De Leon Negron to end the half 40-15.
 
The Red Raiders crashed on a driving Terrell, leaving an open Bell on the wing who nailed her second 3-pointer. De Leon finished a transition layup next time down and a bucket from Bell capped off an 8-point run for UIW as the Cardinals cut the lead to 45-25. The Cardinals scored the most points in the fourth quarter and outscored the Red Raiders in the second half, but Texas Tech ultimately took the game.

"Clearly we got off to a slow start in the first quarter and a lot of that was because of how dominant they were on the offensive boards and getting 12 free throw attempts. In the first half we gave up 11 offensive rebounds but we limited them to only three in the second half. Holding the Red Raiders to 13 points in each of the last three quarters was definitely a step in the right direction defensively."
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals are back in action at the McDermott Center on Monday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m.

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