HAMMOND, La. – Incarnate Word shot 62 percent from the floor in the second half to pull away for a 85-76 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference women's basketball action Monday afternoon in the University Center.
 
The Lady Lions (2-11, 0-2 Southland) lost their eighth straight game, despite tying a season high with 17 assists in the loss. UIW (4-9, 2-0 Southland) is off to its best start to Southland Conference play since joining the league.
 
UIW's second half efficiency spoiled a prolific performance by SLU junior guard Taylin Underwood. The Livingston, Louisiana native poured in a game-high 27 points and also dished out a career-high eight assists in the loss.
 
Underwood was one of three Lady Lions to score in double figures. Senior forward Chey Stewart added a career-high 13 points, while freshman guard Taz Stinson pitched in with 11 points.
 
Southeastern was more effective on the glass than it has been the majority of the season, though the Cardinals finished with a slight 37-36 rebounding advantage. Underwood, sophomore guard Jaclyn Scholvin and freshman guard Charliee Dugas shared team-high honors with six rebounds apiece. Dugas also led SLU with three steals.
 
UIW featured a balanced attack led by Celia Garcia Paunero, who posted a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Imani Robinson added 20 points off the bench, while Cheyenne Berry and Haley Frias added 16 and 11 points, respectively.
 
The primary difference in the game came at the free throw line. UIW netted 25 of 33 attempts from the charity stripe after drawing 27 fouls on SLU, as Scholvin, Stinson and sophomore guard Ashailee Brailey all fouled out. SLU was 11-for-17 from the free throw line after the Cardinals were whistled for 19 fouls.
 
UIW held an 11-6 advantage midway through the opening quarter, but the Lady Lions turned the tide as the period progressed. SLU closed out the quarter with a 12-4 run and a three by Scholvin gave Southeastern an 18-15 lead after 10 minutes of play.
 
The final first-half SLU lead occurred midway through the second quarter, as a Scholvin jumper put the Lady Lions ahead, 28-26, with 5:12 left in the opening half.
 
Incarnate Word answered with a 13-2 run over the next three-plus minutes, as a three by Frias put the Cardinals ahead, 39-30, with 1:41 remaining in the half. SLU chiseled into the lead slightly, but went into the break trailing 41-38.
 
A three by Brailey early in the third quarter put Southeastern back up, 43-41. The lead see-sawed back and forth over the next few minutes with a free throw by junior guard Bre Warren giving the Lady Lions a 50-49 lead with six minutes to go in the period.
 
Garcia Paunero scored seven points in a 13-2 run over the next four minutes, as UIW took a nine-point lead into the final quarter. The lead would grow to as many as 11 and Southeastern would get no closer than five down the stretch. The teams played to a standstill over the final 10 minutes, leading to the Cardinals finishing with a nine-point victory.
 
SLU will play its next three games away from home. The Lady Lions open their road swing on Thursday with a 5 p.m. contest at Houston Baptist. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.