March 1, 2001

Box Score

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Linda Fr?hlich scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as UNLV escaped with a 72-69 victory over Wyoming at the Multi-Purpose Gym on Thursday.

The Rebels (18-7, 8-5), after trailing by three at the break, went down by as many as seven in the second half before battling back and regaining the lead, 64-59, behind a 14-2 run over 3:36. They held that lead down the backstretch despite a scare from the Cowgirls (10-16, 2-11), who pulled within two on a pair of Shelby Hoffman free throws with 48 seconds remaining.

Down 71-69, Wyoming had two looks at the basket to take the lead, but came up empty on both three-point attempts. Fr?hlich then buried one of two free throws to seal the victory.

Fr?hlich's 27 led all scorers and marked the fifth straight game she has topped the 20-point plateau. Her 15 rebounds bring her season double-double total to a conference-best eight, including five of the last six games.

Constance Jinks and Dayna Gambill both hit double figures, adding 18 and 10 respectively. Wyoming had four players in double figures, led by Hoffman's 16.

The win was UNLV's 18th of the season, one more than it posted in both of the past two years. It also clinches a winning conference record for the second straight year at 8-5, and moves one step closer to a potential No. 2 seed for the upcoming Mountain West Conference Tournament. The tourney will be played on March 7-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Rebels need a victory over Colorado State on Saturday, March 3, and a New Mexico loss at Utah to tie the Rams for second place in the Mountain West Conference standings. On the flip side, a loss and Saturday, and UNLV could place as low as fifth in the league race.

Tip for Saturday's showdown is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MST at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo.