Nov. 27, 2004
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - UNLV welcomed two injured starters back to the lineup and rolled past Texas-Arlington 79-57 in the second game of the Lady Rebel Shootout on Saturday night from the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels, who shot 56% in the first half and 53% for the game, advanced to Sunday's championship game at 4:30 pm against fifth-ranked North Carolina, who defeated No. 24 Villanova 63-56 in the day's first game. UTA and Villanova will play in the consolation game at 2 pm.
Junior guard Sheena Moore posted 18 points and eight rebounds, while senior forward RanDee Henry added 15 points and seven rebounds to pace UNLV. The Lady Rebels shot 28-53 (52.8%) for the game, and were 22-30 at the line (73.3%). They won the rebounding battle 44-39, and finished with 11 steals for the game, while holding UTA to just 22-of-69 from the floor for 31.9%.
Las Vegas native and UNLV freshman Sequoia Holmes, in her second career start, sparked the Lady Rebels to an 8-6 lead with three quick layups, including two off her own steals. Holmes finished with a career-high 13 in the win. A layup from Nikki Hitchens stretched the lead to 20-9 for UNLV with 12:07 left, before Terra Wallace hit a pair of treys to bring the Lady Mavs within six, 21-15 at the 10:54 mark. UNLV then tighten its defense, and forced Texas-Arlington to miss its next 13 shots, before Maryann Abanobi finally converted a layup with 3:26 to go in the half, making the score 37-20 for UNLV. The Lady Rebels took a 41-26 edge into the break.
An 18-7 run to open the second half sealed the game for UNLV, as Kisha Lee's jumper in the paint gave the Lady Rebels a 59-33 advantage with 12:57 left in the game. A RanDee Henry free throw with 8:25 on the clock gave UNLV its largest lead of the game, 66-41.
Hitchens, who tore her MCL on Oct. 24 and missed the first three games of the year, saw her first action of the season against the Lady Mavs, and was a spark off the bench scoring nine points and grabbing four rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Making a surprise return was Amy Loftus, originally thought to be out of action until mid-December with an ankle sprain, but the senior center played came off the bench with 10 minutes. Senior forward and preseason All-MWC Sherry McCracklin continues to sit out with an Achilles injury.
Texas-Arlington was led by Terra Wallace, one of four players in double figures with 13 points. Ashley Bobb added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Rola Ogunoye added 11 and Tabitha Wesley 10.
Down 26-25 at the half, North Carolina opened the second half with a 13-2 run, and held off a late Villanova rally for the win in the first game. Camille Little scored a team-high 13 points, while Nakita Bell added nine points and 10 rebounds for the Tar Heels. Villanova was paced by Liad Suez with 16 points and 14 points from Kate Dessart Mager. UNC held a 49-31 edge on the boards.
