March 8, 2002
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - Fourth-seeded UNLV proved too hungry to let top-seeded Colorado State deny it a first trip to the Mountain West Conference Championship finals as the Lady Rebels upset the nationally ranked Rams, 72-58, in semifinal action of the postseason league tournament Friday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center.
CSU became UNLV's second top-25 opponent victim of the year, after the Lady Rebels handed the Rams a previous 71-59 loss on Feb. 14, without the services of star forward Linda Fr?hlich. With an NCAA Tournament bid on the line, UNLV kept to its game plan and took care of business.
In the first half, eight ties and 11 lead changes were exchanged by the Lady Rebels and Rams. Each team had their fair share of layups, jumpers and bank shots, but one thing that plagued CSU would be its missed free throw attempts (12-of-22) - and not to mention the outstanding play by junior first team All-MWC guard Constance Jinks.
Jinks, a native of Chicago, Ill., scored 16 of her career-high and game-high 36 points in the first half. Her hot shooting streak set a new women's tournament record for most points in a game, along with her 13-of-14 (.929) shooting from the free throw line. Back-to-back 3-pointers, however, by CSU junior Ashley Augspurger sent the Rams into the lockerroom with a 32-28 lead at halftime.
With 14:59 remaining in regulation and the game tied at 37-37, the Lady Rebels got out in front for good with a 17-6 run. In that time frame, Jinks racked up seven points on two free throws, one long range 3-pointer and a fast break layup.
"We were very excited with our effort in the second half," UNLV coach Regina Miller said. "Now, we have the opportunity to battle for the Mountain West Conference championship title tomorrow. This is March Madness and what it's all about. We worked really hard all year long to accomplish this goal (of advancing to the finals) and are very happy with the results."
Fr?hlich, a senior All-America candidate and three-time conference player of the year from Oldendorf, Germany, recorded her 14th double-double of the year with 18 points and game-high 17 rebounds. Fellow senior Kinesha Davis (Brooklyn Center, Minn.) turned in six points, while the sister act of Dishawn and Sherry McCracklin (Hazel Crest, Ill.) helped the team outrebound the Rams for the third straight time this season, 43-34. The Lady Rebels are the only league team this season to beat CSU twice.
UNLV (23-6) will next face third-seeded BYU (21-8) in the championship finals on Saturday, March 9 at 3:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast locally on KENO 1460 AM radio and via an Internet link on unlvrebels.com. ESPN2 will also televise the MWC women's championship final (tape delay) at 9:30 p.m.
SET YOUR VCR ONCE AGAIN: UNLV's conference tournament semifinal victory over 15th-ranked Colorado State will be aired by Sportswest tonight on Las Vegas One at 11:30 p.m.
