Nov. 14, 2003

Box Score

Sophomore Sheena Moore came off the bench to score 18 points in just 17 minutes of action and RanDee Henry added 17 as the UNLV women's basketball team posted a 72-64 win over Latvian Select in an exhibition game on Friday night from the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Lady Rebels kept up the defensive pressure the entire game, forcing Latvian into 34 turnovers. The game was tight at the beginning before a three-point play from Amy Loftus sparked a 20-3 UNLV run over the next 6:53. A free throw from Shana Coleman capped the run, putting the Lady Rebels up 28-10 with 9:01 left in the half, and UNLV would take a 44-26 advantage into the break.

With the Lady Rebels up 50-38 in the second half, a three-point play from Ieva Tare started a 7-1 run by Latvian, and her layup at 11:38 cut the UNLV led to just six, 51-45, with 11:43 left on the clock. The Lady Rebels answered right back with a 10-0 spurt, and Latvian would not threaten again, trailing by double digits the rest of the game until the final basket of the contest.

"We played much better defense and much better transition defense tonight," said UNLV head coach Regina Miller. "Our focus as a group was much better as a group tonight, and it really showed on the court."

Moore finished 6-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the line to register 18 points for the second straight exhibition game. Henry was the only other Lady Rebel in double figures. Nikki Hitchens added eight points, while Sherry McCracklin finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. UNLV shot 41.7% for the game, and was 22-of-35 at the line as well (62.9%), while also recording 16 steals.

Latvian Select was led by Tare with 23 points, while Sanita Dvinska added 16. They shot 45.7 percent as a team, and were 20-32 from the line.

UNLV will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. against Centenary College in a doubleheader at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Runnin' Rebels will follow the Lady Rebels at 7:30 against Delaware State.