Jan. 31, 2004

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Katie Montgomery hit a short jumper with 26 seconds left, and New Mexico added two free throws with one two seconds left as the Lobos upset UNLV 70-66 on Saturday night in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action in front of a NCAA season-high women's basketball crowd of 18,018 in the Pit. The Lady Rebels saw their 10-game win streak come to a halt as they fell to 15-3 on the season, and are now tied for second in the conference at 4-1 with New Mexico (12-6).

The Lady Rebels led the majority of the second half, and held a seven-point lead, 64-57 with 5:10 left on a pair of Sherry McCracklin free throws. A 5-0 run brought New Mexico with two, before RanDee Henry stole a pass at the top of the key and took it in for a layup and a 66-62 UNLV edge with 3:45 on the clock. That would be the last points of the game for the Lady Rebels. A Melissa Forest basket made the score 66-64, and the Lobos forced UNLV into a turnover on the next possession, which Montgomery converted into a pull-up basket in the lane to tie the game at 66-all with 1:10 on the clock. UNLV ran a play for a layup inside, but it was off the rim, and Montgomery again converted the turnover into a basket and a 68-66 lead with 26 seconds left. Sheena Moore attempted to tie the score, but lost the handle on the ball while driving towards the basket, and Forest grabbed the ball to seal the win for New Mexico.

UNLV led by as much as 10 in the first half, but the Lobos three-point shooting kept them in the game, as they knocked down 5-of-11 from downtown in the first 20 minutes. The lead changed three times during the half, and McCracklin's layup with three seconds left tied the score at 36-36 entering halftime. With the score tied at 41-41 in the second half, UNLV scored six straight to open a 47-41 lead, and led by nine, 54-45, on Henry's fast break layup.

UNLV, the top scoring team in the MWC, was held to its lowest output in over a month. Henry led the Lady Rebels with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Sheena Moore poured in 17 and McCracklin 16. The rest of the Lady Rebels combined for just 10 points. UNLV shot 37.9% for the game, and were 12-of-16 at the line. They did outrebound New Mexico 38-36, and forced 21 turnovers while committing only 18. They were hurt by foul trouble, as InFini Robinson was called for three fouls in the first half, picked up her fourth early in the second.

Melissa Forest paced New Mexico with 20 points and eight rebounds. Lindsey Arndt added 12 points, while Mandi Moore chipped in eight points. The Lobos shot 26-of-55 for 47.3 percent from the floor, and were 7-of-16 from three-point range for 43.8%.

The Lady Rebels return home to Las Vegas to host BYU on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 pm in the Cox Pavilion.