Nov. 30, 2003
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - Junior forward Sherry McCracklin turned in her fourth straight double-double of the season with 16 points and 16 rebounds on the way to earning Tournament MVP honors, sparking UNLV to a 77-67 win over Richmond in the championship game of the Lady Rebel Shootout in women's collegiate basketball action on Sunday afternoon from the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels improved to 3-1 on the year, and remained undefeated at home at 3-0 with the win, while Richmond suffered its first loss of the season to fall to 3-1. In the first game of the day, Georgia Southern (2-2) claimed a 71-55 win over San Diego (1-3) in the consolation game.
McCracklin was one of four players in double figures for the Lady Rebels, who rallied from a halftime deficit for the second straight day. UNLV outscored the Spiders 15-1 on second chance points, which was helped by 16 offensive rebounds, including seven from McCracklin.
Richmond led 34-33 at the break, and opened the second half with two straight baskets for a 38-33 advantage. UNLV would take its first lead of the second half on a trey from RanDee Henry at 15:47 for a 42-41 lead, but the Spiders answered right back with a jumper from Amber Goppert to make the score 43-42. A three-point play from Kameca Simmons then started a 10-2 run for the Lady Rebels, capped by a three-pointer from InFini Robinson for a 52-45 UNLV advantage with 13:36 left in the game. Richmond remained in the game, but could only cut the lead down to five on a Goppert layup with 11:27 left to make the score 56-51. UNLV increased its lead to as high as 11 twice in the last minute before finishing with the 10-point victory, which gave them the Lady Rebel Shootout title for the third time in the last four years and the sixth overall in the 12 year history of the tournament.
The first half was a tight battle with five different lead changes. Richmond opened up a seven point lead three times, and led 23-16 with 6:59 left before eight straight points from the Lady Rebels gave them the lead back at 24-23. The lead changed hands three more times, and Robinson hit two free throws with three seconds left to bring UNLV within one, 34-33.
Robinson and Simmons both finished with 17 points to pace the Lady Rebels, while Simmons also added nine rebounds. RanDee Henry posted 15 points, and was named to the all-tournament team along with Simmons. As a team, UNLV shot 45.2% (28-62), hit 4-of-10 (40.0%) from downtown, and made 17-of-23 (73.9%) from the line. They held a 40-31 edge on the boards, and turned the ball over a season-low 12 times.
Richmond was paced by Saona Chapman with 24 points and seven assists. Kate Flavin was 7-of-7 from the floor for 16 points and six rebounds, while Goppert added 14 points. Chapman and Flavin were both named all-tournament. Richmond shot 49.2% (29-59) for the game, and was 7-of-12 (58.3%) at the line.
In the consolation game, San Diego made just one of its first 24 shots in the second half as Georgia Southern would cruise to the easy 71-55 victory. The Eagles led by five at halftime, 44-39, but held the Toreros to just one basket over the first 13:59 of the second half, opening up a 65-41 lead before Lindsay Helvey broke the drought with a three-point. -MORE- Jessica Everett led Georgia Southern with 13 points, while Adrienne Early and Kellie Tiller both poured in 11 points. The Eagles shot 42.9% for the game, and hit 15-of-18 (83.3%) at the line, while they also outrebounded San Diego 50-40. The Torreros, who made just 5-of-34 (14.7%) shots in the second half, were paced by Jamie Corwin with 15 points. Helvey was the only other player in double figures with 12. San Diego attempted 33 three-pointers, and made eight for 24.2%.
UNLV will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 6, as the Lady Rebels will play their second road game of the year at intra-state rival Nevada, Reno at 7 p.m.
2003 Lady Rebel Shootout All-Tournament Team
Nicole Newton, Georgia Southern
Saona Chapman, Richmond
Kate Flavin, Richmond
Kameca Simmons, UNLV
RanDee Henry, UNLV
Tournament MVP
Sherry McCracklin, UNLV
