BEAUMONT, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team suffered its first Southland Conference loss of the season against the league's preseason favorite, Lamar University, on Thursday night.

Freshman Eryn McKinzie came off the bench, providing a much-needed spark for UIW while notching a career-high 11 points to lead the team.

Lamar came out of the gates hot, going a perfect 5-for-5 on the first five shots of the night for a quick 11-2 lead at the first media timeout three minutes into the game. On the opposite side of the ball, UIW struggled to find the bottom of the net, shooting 15 percent in the first quarter to trail 21-7 at the break.

LU looked to extend its lead in the second quarter, pulling ahead by as much as 26 points as the Cardinals once again scored in single digits with an 8-point quarter for a halftime score of 41-15.  

UIW came out in the third quarter a much scrappier team, attacking the basket hard, diving after loose balls and drawing charges against Lamar. With a 9-2 start to the second half, the Cardinals looked to cut away at the deficit on the offensive end, while holding Lamar on the defensive end. UIW was able to limit LU to just 12 third quarter points, but a 53-28 lead still remained to start the final quarter.

The Cardinals had their most productive quarter in the final ten minutes of the night, shooting 55 percent from the field, while going 2-for-3 from 3-point land and 5-for-6 from the free throw line for 19 fourth-quarter points as Lamar won the game, 69-47.

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