LAKE CHARLES, La. – A 25-point second quarter and 50 percent 3-point shooting fueled the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team to a 61-48 victory over McNeese State University at the Legacy Center on Saturday afternoon. This win marks the fifth straight victory for the Cardinals as they near the end of regular season play.
 
Nina De Leon Negron shot 5-for-7 from field goal range and 4-for-6 from the three, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Leading scorer, Aliyah Collins put up 15 points on the night and Destiny Terrell pulled down 10 rebounds. The Cardinals scored 30 of their 61 points on 3-pointers.
 
UIW started the game with back-to-back offensive boards on the first two possessions leading to two buckets and a 4-0 start. The largest lead of the first was a nine-point UIW edge, but the Cowgirls overcame eight points to come within one. Brenna Perez subbed in and nailed a trey that gave the Cardinals a three-point lead at the end of the first (15-12).  
 
McNeese once again crept within one point (15-14) but a pair of 3-pointers from De Leon Negron sparked momentum for the Cardinals leading to a 10-point lead, 26-16, midway through the second. UIW rolled into a 40-24 halftime advantage, fueled by 73 percent 3-point shooting with the Cardinals knocking down eight of 11.
 
Only 18 total points were scored in the third quarter, led by the Cowgirls who outscored the Cardinals 12-6, cutting the once 17-point deficit down to ten heading into the final quarter (46-36).
 
UIW's defense held McNeese to 12 points in each of the four quarters, and only 32 percent field goal shooting during the 61-48 victory.
 
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