KATY, Texas –Jaaucklyn Moore drained a 3-pointer from the corner as time expired to advance the University of the Incarnate Word's women's basketball program to the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament. UIW topped Nicholls State University, 74-73, on Thursday afternoon at the Merrel Center.
 
"This is a tremendous win for our program," said head coach Jeff Dow. "The first win as a Division I program in the conference tournament is big, and with as many young players as we have, the future is exciting.
 
"The focus all week was 'the biggest game in school history is today' in terms of Division I. We didn't want to check out of the hotel today, we wanted to come back, play tomorrow and give ourselves a chance. A terrific game, and a ton of credit goes to Nicholls. Obviously playing short-handed with only seven players and everything they've gone through and how well they persevered."
 
Moore led the Cardinal offense with her seventh 20+ point performance of the season, registering 29 on the day. Tiana Gardner followed with a season-best 19 points. Destiny Terrel also recorded a double-digit day, tallying 10 points.
 
After trailing by eight early, the Cardinals rallied to tie the game at the end of the first 10 minutes (19-19). Moore heated up UIW's offense with a 3-pointer to stop the Colonels' scoring run. Terrel showed her strength, battling through Nicholl's defense and knocking down a pair of free throws. Chloe Storer entered the game locked in and battled on both ends of the court. She registered two rebounds and a steal while draining a buzzer-beater lay up to tie the game at the end of the first quarter.
 
Tiana Gardner led UIW through the first half with 14 points. She scored eight points in the second quarter, including two three-point plays while battling through the Colonel defense. Gardner knocked down a pair of free throws to give the lead back to the Cardinals, but the Colonels hit a fast break layup for the 35-34 advantage heading into the break.
 
The Colonels came out of the halftime break in a fast-pace offensive scheme to push ahead, 39-34. The Cardinals rallied to come within two points after back-to-back lay ups from Terrel. Destiny Jenkins sparked UIW offense with a pull-up jumper in the heavily defended Colonel paint. Jenkins followed with a 3-pointer that tied the game at the end of the third quarter.
 
Moore's offense heated up in the fourth as she scored the first seven points of the quarter. The Cardinals went on a 6-0 scoring run before the Colonels were able to come back and tie the game at 66-66. Moore drained a three from the top of the key with 13 seconds left in the game to leave UIW trailing by two (73-71). With 1.8 seconds remaining, Terrel inbounded the ball to Moore, who maintained her composure as she sank a buzzer-beating shot off one foot to secure UIW's 74-73 victory.
 
"Elated for our kids to be able to play another day, and we begin preparing for McNeese here in a couple of hours. We need to switch gears," added Dow.
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals face McNeese State University on Friday, March 11, in the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
 
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.  
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