Dec. 30, 2004

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - Forwards RanDee Henry and Nikki Hitchens both scored 20 points and UNLV (6-5) shot 64% in the second half to blow open the game and take a 92-52 win over Central Connecticut State (1-7) on Thursday night in the Cox Pavilion. It marked the first time the Lady Rebels have scored over 90 points this season, and was the largest margin of victory since a 90-49 win over Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 11, 2003, also in the Cox Pavilion.

The game was anything but a high scoring affair in the first half, as the teams combined to miss their first ten shots from the floor. UNLV was actually just 1-of-12 from the field for the first seven and a half minutes of the game. However, beginning with Shana Coleman's layup at 12:18 for a 6-5 edge, the Lady Rebels would finish the half hitting 14 of 19 and finished 15-of-31 for 48.4%. CCSU stayed within distance after the first 20 minutes by hitting 12-of-30 (40%), and turned the ball over just seven times for the half.

It was a different story in the second half, with UNLV steadily increasing its lead to 18 points on a Shana Coleman jumper for a 52-34 edge. After four straight points from the Blue Devils, UNLV exploded on a 23-2 run over a five-minute span, with Latosha Pace's tip-in at 5:56 making the score 75-40. Though the Lady Rebels cleared the bench for the final five minutes, the lead continued to grow, and Candace Sneed's second trey of the game accounted for the final score of 92-52. UNLV finished the half hitting 23-of-36 for 63.9%, while holding the Blue Devils to just 9-of-32 (28.1%). CCSU was also forced into 17 second half turnovers, which were turned into 25 UNLV points.

Henry posted her fifth double-double of the year with 20 points and 13 rebounds. She also surpassed the 1,500 career point mark in the game, and stands with 1,516 in her four-year career at Detroit and UNLV. Hitchens was 8-of-9 from the floor and added six rebounds on the way to her 20 points. Also in double figures was Sequoia Holmes with career-highs in both points (14) and steals (6), while Kisha Lee chipped in 10 points off the bench. Sheena Moore, the MWC's leading scorer, was just 3-of-13 for six points, but dished out seven assists. UNLV shot a season-high 56.7% (38-67), was 5-of-13 (38.5%) from downtown, and held a 39-35 edge on the boards. The 25 assists in the game for the Lady Rebels was also the most since they had 27 against Colorado State on Feb. 8, 2003.

CCSU was paced by Gabriella Guegbelet with 18 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Kim Boone posted 10 points, while Krystal Coke came off the bench with 12. The Blue Devils shot just 33.9% (21-of-62), and made just one of nine attempts from behind the arc (11.1%).

UNLV continues its seven-game homestand with a Sunday afternoon contest in the Thomas & Mack Center against Canisius at 3 pm.