Dec. 21, 2003
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UNLV gave head coach Regina Miller an early Christmas present on Sunday afternoon, as the Lady Rebels (7-2) posted a 74-61 victory over South Florida (4-5) in women's collegiate basketball action from the Cox Pavilion. The victory gave Miller her 100th win in her six years as the UNLV coach (100-55), and she becomes the fourth coach in school history to reach 100 victories. It was also a milestone victory for the UNLV program, as the Lady Rebels earned their 550th win all-time in their 30-year history, becoming the 45th school in NCAA history to reach the 550 win plateau.
Sheena Moore led the Lady Rebels in scoring for the third straight game with 19 points, while RanDee Henry finished with 18. Sherry McCracklin, the nation's leading rebounder, grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds, and added 12 points for her seventh double-double of the season. She also blocked a career-high five shots, and tied her career-high with six assists. UNLV shot 50 percent (23-46) for the game, its second straight at 50 percent or better, while holding the Bulls to just 27.5 percent (19-69) from the floor.
UNLV looked to have the game in hand at halftime after racing out to a 44-25 advantage, helped by hitting 13-of-21 (61.9 percent) from the floor. The Lady Rebels started with an 11-2 lead just four minutes into the game, before South Florida scored eight straight to climb back in the game. UNLV then turned on the offense, outscoring USF 31-11 over the next 11:25, capped by a three-point play from McCracklin for a 42-21 advantage. McCracklin posted a double-double by the end of the first half with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The turnovers began to catch up to UNLV in the second half, and the Bulls took advantage. Following Nejlah Clark's three-point play that gave the Lady Rebels their largest lead of the game at 51-29 with 17:15 left in the game, the UNLV offense suddenly went cold. USF took advantage, and went on a 15-1 spurt over a 4:29 span to cut the lead to single digits, 52-44 on a tip-in by Anedra Gilmore with 11:49 remaining. The lead remained around 10 points for UNLV for the next nine minutes, until Nalini Miller's layup with 2:20 left on the clock brought USF within seven, 66-59. The Lady Rebels responded by scoring eight straight points to put the game away, with Moore's trey at 39 seconds sealing the victory.
Clark was the fourth Lady Rebel in double figures with a career-high 10 points. UNLV held a 42-41 advantage on the boards, but were forced into 28 turnovers for the game.
Jessica Dickson paced the Bulls with 19 points, while Miller posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Anedra Gilmore also finished in double figures with 10, and added five assists and three steals. USF finished shooting 21-of-27 (77.8 percent) at the line, including 15-of-17 in the second half.
The Lady Rebels break from Christmas before returning back home to the Cox Pavilion to host Mississippi State on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 3 pm.
