March 18, 2001

Box Score

STILLWATER, Okla. - Despite a late run to erase a 15-point comeback, the UNLV women's basketball team was unable to continue its 2001 postseason run after a 71-67 loss at Oklahoma State on Sunday in the second round of the WNIT.

The Lady Rebels (19-10), who never led in the game, had a chance to take its first lead with 12 seconds left and perhaps a victory. Down 69-67, Erin Johansson collected a loose ball at the top of the key and fired a three-pointer before the defense could find her. The shot just missed, hitting the front of the rim. OSU (16-14) grabbed the rebound and secured its win with a pair of free throws by Kara Faulk.

"Erin took a great shot," UNLV head coach Regina Miller said. "When she let it go, I thought it was going in."

Before the miss, Johansson came off the bench to ignite the Rebels' second-half run, immediately draining back-to-back three-pointers. She connected on a third long range shot, but crossed the line by a toe, and finished with eight points.

The key statistic of the game was free throws, as Oklahoma State made 37 trips to the line and capitalized on 24 of them. Conversely, the Cowgirls were whistled for just 12 fouls and UNLV went 2-for-3 from the stripe. Fouls were a lopsided 25-12 in favor of OSU.

"I don't think I've ever coached or played in a game where the opponent shot 37 free throws and my team only took three, but those are the breaks of playing on the road" Miller said.

Linda Fr?hlich led the Rebels with 15 points, 10 in the second half. Petra Gl?ser, making her first start since Feb. 1, produced her first career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes.

The loss ends the best season the Lady Rebels have enjoyed in seven years. They posted their best record and first postseason appearance since the 1993-94 squad went 23-7 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The third-place finish was also the best since the 93-94 unit finished second in the Big West, and UNLV's win over Loyola Marymount was the first postseason victory since the 193 NWIT.