HOUSTON, TX – HCU women's basketball team got revenge against UIW, the team who eliminated the Huskies from the conference tournament in 2021-22, with a 71-52 win Thursday night in Sharp Gym.
 
Julija Vujakovic found her shooting stroke early for HCU (8-9, 3-3 SLC) after struggling from the floor in the  previous two games. Vujakovic got things going for the Huskies with a knock down three on a cross court pass from N'Denasija Collins.
 
After giving up a layup on the following possession, HCU went on an 8-2 run to extend their early lead to seven, 11-4. Marilyn Nzoiwu and Collins played point-forward in the first, dishing out two and three assists respectively early on.
 
HCU's defensive effort was noticeable throughout the first period. In the final five and a half minutes, HCU held the Cardinals (7-9, 2-4 SLC) to just one made basket while forcing three turnovers. In that same time frame Vujakovic and Kennedy Wilson each knocked down threes and extended the HCU lead to 11, 19-8 at the conclusion of the first.
 
While UIW found their shooting stroke in the second (made 6-of-10 shots) the Huskies did not cool down from the field. They outscored the Cardinals 18-to-17 in the second, led by Vujakovic and Enya Maguire scoring five points each. HCU took this 12 point lead into the half, which would prove to be too much for the Cardinals to overcome.
 
Lauryn Mapusua checked into the game for HCU at the eight minute mark of the third and dominated the paint immediately. She worked her way into the low block and either was fouled and sent to the line or made a layup on three-of-five Huskies possessions leading to six points in the quarter.
 
UIW cut the deficit to eight points towards the end of the quarter, however would allow HCU's lead to balloon to 23 in the fourth.

Wilson led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Vujakovic added 16 points and a team high five assists, while Abbey Sutherland added and additional 12 points. Maguire had eight points off the bench while Nzoiwu collected 12 rebounds. Collins six points, four assists, and three rebounds.  
 
Nina De Leon Negron led two Cardinals in double-figures with 12 points while also leading the team in rebounds with seven, assists with three, and steals with two.
 
The HCU women's team returns to Sharp Gym Saturday afternoon to host the Texas A&M-Corpus Islanders at 2pm on ESPN+.