Nov. 29, 2003
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - Junior forward RanDee Henry scored 19 of her game-high 21 points in the second half and UNLV rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to a 78-64 victory over San Diego in the second game of the Lady Rebel Shootout in women's collegiate basketball action on Saturday afternoon from the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels were down by 11 with under 16 minutes left, but took control of the game with a 17-0 run over the next 5:17, part of a 53-point second half for UNLV (2-1). Richmond (3-0) and UNLV will now meet in the championship game of the Lady Rebel Shootout at 4:30 pm on Sunday, as the Spiders shot 64% in the second half to hand Georgia Southern a 59-48 loss in the first game of the day. San Diego (1-2) and Georgia Southern (1-2) will play in Sunday's consolation game at 2 pm.
San Diego was on fire to begin the game, as the Toreros raced out to a 16-3 lead just over seven minutes into the contest. However, foul trouble began to catch up with San Diego, allowing the Lady Rebels to climb back into the game. UNLV cut the lead to eight twice in the first half, the last on a free throw from Sherry McCracklin with 1:42 left in the stanza. The Toreros responded with an 8-2 run, including a three-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 39-25.
With San Diego holding a 45-34 lead with under 16 minutes to play, the Lady Rebels came out of the media timeout on fire, as two straight Henry layups and a three-point play from McCracklin started the 17-0 run for UNLV. Kameca Simmons' layup at 11:01 capped the spurt, giving UNLV a 51-45 lead with 10:51 left. After San Diego's Tiara Harris went 1-of-2 at the line to cut the lead to five, UNLV answered with a 10-3 run to seal the game, taking a 61-49 edge with 6:49 on the clock. The Torreros would not be able to cut the lead into single digits, and the Lady Rebels took their largest lead of the game at 77-61 on a layup from Henry with 2:14 to play.
McCracklin posted her third double-double in as many games, and 12th in her career with 14 points and 15 rebounds, which ties her career-high. Also scoring in double figures along with McCracklin and Henry was Shana Coleman, who came off the bench to post a career-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. As a team, the Lady Rebels dominated the boards with a 49-29 advantage. UNLV shot just 30.8% in the first half, but hit 18-of-33 in the second (54.5%) to finish at 44.1% for the game, and made 26-of-45 attempts at the line.
San Diego was paced by Marta Menuez with 19 points and five rebounds. Harris and Jamie Corwin both posted 10 points apiece for the Toreros. San Diego shot 42.9% (24-of-56) from the floor and were 5-of-18 from behind the arc, but foul trouble killed their chances of a second half comeback, as the Toreros had five players foul out in the contest, including four starters. In the first game of the day, Georgia Southern controlled the first half of play, leading by as much as nine, 19-10 with 8:07 left, but Richmond would cut the lead to just four at halftime, 24-20. The Eagles were holding onto a three-point lead, 27-24 with 18:11 left in the game when Richmond ran off an 11-0 run over the next 4:22 for a 35-27 edge. Georgia Southern cut the lead to five on a trey with 12:52 left in the game, but 10-3 run by the Spiders put the game away.
Richmond's Kate Flavin finished 8-of-11 from the floor for 18 points and added seven rebounds to pace the Spiders, while Araceli Gil added 13 points and Christina Campion posted 13 points and four rebounds. The Spiders hit 24-of-49 from the floor for 49%, and were 9-of-14 at the line, while Georgia Southern only attempted five free throws, making two. GSU was led by Lee DuBose with 11 points, including three three-pointers. Shawnica Hill and Nicole Newton both added eight points. The Eagles did have a 35-33 edge on the boards, and forced 19 turnovers, but shot just 35% (21-60) for the game.
