LAKE CHARLES, LA. – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team defeated Northwestern State University, 69-54 on Tuesday afternoon at the Legacy Center. With the win, the Cardinals are set to face No. 1 Southeastern Louisiana in the conference semifinals tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. The Red and Black extended their winning streak to 14 games against the Lady Demons, while head coach Jeff Dow stays a perfect 12-0 against NSU.  

 
The Cardinals had four players score in double digits. Jorja Elliott was named the player of the game, recording 11 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals in the win.  Defensive specialist Dorian Norris led the Cardinals in scoring with 14 points. Myra Bell added 12 points, and Destiny Whitaker contributed 11 points off the bench. As a team, the Cardinals tallied eight steals and two blocks on the defensive end. The Red and Black outscored the Lady Demons in points in the paint (26), bench points (24), and points off turnovers (18). 

UIW came out of the gate hot, draining four threes in a row to start the game. After playing one, the Cardinals led 14-11.   
 

The Cardinals continued to shoot the ball well in the second quarter, putting up 21 points. The Red and Black had their best shooting quarter in the second, shooting 53% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc. UIW's defense held the Lady Demons to 14 in the quarter, bringing the score to 35-25 at the break.  

The only quarter NSU outscored UIW came in the third when the Lady Demons scored 17 points to the Cardinals 15. Despite the Lady Demons outscoring UIW, the Red and Black still held an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter.     

UIW put up 19 points in the fourth to pull away late. The Cardinals outscored NSU 19-11 to run away with the game late in the fourth, bringing the final score to 69-54. 

UIW is set for the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament, where they will face No. 1 SLU. Tomorrow's game time is 10:30 a.m.    

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