SAN ANTONIO – With a 67-58 victory over Northwestern State on Thursday night, the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team clinched a Southland Conference Tournament berth beginning March 6 and running through March 9 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This win marks only the second time in school history women's basketball has won four consecutive games against Division I opponents.
 
"We are just tremendously proud of our young ladies," said head coach Jeff Dow. "To start out conference play 0-3 and spend a good portion of the season in eighth or ninth place, it is really rewarding to see us persevere, win four in a row late in the year, and put ourselves in sole possession of fifth place at the moment. But most importantly, earn a spot in the Southland Conference tournament with still two games left in the regular season."
 
Five student-athletes scored in double figures on the night as Brenna Perez led the way with 16. Aliyah Collins (14), Myra Bell (13), Nina De Leon Negron (12), and Jorja Elliott (10) were all big factors tonight.
 
"We were really pleased to have such balanced scoring with five players in double figures.  And to shoot 50 percent overall from the field and 44 percent from three was outstanding."
 
The Cardinals got off to a slow start in the first, ending the quarter down 18-10 to the Demons.
 
Midway through the second, UIW found their rhythm, slowly chipping away at Northwestern State's lead. With five minutes to go, a pair of free throws from De Leon Negron put the Cardinals within one (23-22). The two teams traded buckets until free throws from Bell gave UIW a one-point advantage (24-23). Neither team let down the remainder of the quarter as they headed to the locker room tied at 28.
 
"Defensively we were outstanding in the second and third quarters in holding them to 29 percent from the field (10-34) with zero free throw attempts.  We placed a lot of emphasis on being disciplined and not putting them on the free throw line, and limiting them to nine attempts for the game was a big part of the win."
 
Seven straight points from Collins at the end of the third separated the Cardinals from the Demons (47-39). The offensive spark from Collins carried into the fourth quarter as the Cardinals cruised to a 67-58 victory.  
 
"This team has endured a lot throughout this season with injuries that have really compromised our depth.  Our four freshmen, Aliyah Collins, Jorja Elliott, Kaylee Howell and Breelyn Sanborn have come up huge for us.  Part of it was out of design and part of it was out of necessity, but without the contributions they have made we wouldn't be where we are right now."
 
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