Nov. 14, 2004

Box Score

SEATTLE - Despite a career-high 34 points from UNLV junior guard Sheena Moore, No. 14 Minnesota used its advantage on the free throw line to post a 77-69 victory over the Lady Rebels in the season opener for both teams in the first game of the WBCA/BTI Classic at Washington's Bank of America Arena on Sunday afternoon. After trailing by 15 early in the first half, UNLV rallied to cut the lead to just one in the second, but could not take the lead. Both teams were playing with injuried players on the bench, as preseason All-Mountain Conference forward Sherry McCracklin (right Achilles) and starting forward Nikki Hitchens (left MCL), while Minnesota was missing All-American senior forward Janel McCarville.

Minnesota took its largest lead of the game, 25-10, on a layup from Natasha Williams, with 9:04 left in the first half. Moore then started the rally for the Lady Rebels, converting a layup and a three-pointer to spark a 11-3 run, bringing UNLV within 28-21. Latosha Pace nailed her second trey of the with just four seconds left in the first stanza to make the score 39-33 going into the break.

With the Golden Gophers holding a 49-42 lead, UNLV ran off six straight points, with Moore hitting a six-foot jumper to bring the Lady Rebels within one, 49-48, with 12:38 left. Following a UM turnover, UNLV had a chance for its first lead of the game, but Sequoia Holmes' layup was just off, and Shannon Schonrock hit a three on the other end to extend the lead back to four. After the teams traded baskets, Schonrock hit another trey and Williams added a layup to make the score 60-50 with 8:22 on the clock. The Lady Rebels would not quit fighting, cutting the lead to six, 67-61 with 4:03 left, and 74-69 on Moore's fourth three-pointer of the afternoon with 24.7 seconds on the clock, but the Golden Gophers would hold on for the victory.

Minnesota finished 27-of-36 (75.0 percent) at the free throw line, while UNLV was 10-of-12 (83.3 percent), and did not attempt a free throw in the second half until the 6:11 mark.

Moore finished 12-of-21 from the floor, 4-of-7 from outside, and 6-6 from the line for her career-high 34, besting her 33 points against Rice in the 2004 Postseason WNIT. She also added seven rebounds. Also scoring in double figures was Pace with a career-high 11. RanDee Henry, the MWC's leading scorer in 2003-04, was held to just two points on 1-of-6 shooting. UNLV shot 44.1 percent (26-59) from the floor, and seven-of-13 from three-point range (53.8 percent). The rest of the team stats were fairly even, as UM held a 33-30 rebounding edge, and forced 22 turnovers while committing 20.

Jamie Broback led Minnesota with 28 points (including 11-of-15 at the line), while Kelly Roysland added 16 and Schonrock poured in 11.

The Lady Rebels will play South Carolina on Monday at 5 pm in the second day of the WBCA/BTI Classic.