Feb. 26, 2004

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - UNLV cut a 16-point second half deficit down to one with under three minutes left, but Abbie Letz hit a clutch three-pointer to lift New Mexico to a hard fought 59-54 victory over the Lady Rebels in Mountain West women's basketball action on Thursday night from the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels held New Mexico scoreless for a 6:33 span in the second half, but poor shooting at the free throw line hurt UNLV's rally. UNLV, which lost for the first time in the Cox Pavilion this season, fell to 18-6 overall and 7-4 in the MWC after losing back-to-back games for the first time this year. New Mexico improved to 17-7, and 9-2 in the league.

New Mexico shot 60.7% in the first half to open a 40-26 lead, and Melissa Forest's layup to open the second gave UNM its biggest lead of the game at 16 points. Following a jumper by Lindsey Arndt to make the score 48-35 for the Lobos, UNLV turned up the defense and held UNM scoreless for the next 6:33 of the game. The Lady Rebels ran off eight straight during the stretch before a pair of Forest free throws broke the drought. UNLV answered back with a 7-1 run, capped by RanDee Henry's three-point play with 4:13 to make the score 51-50. The teams then traded baskets, and with the shot clock winding down, the Lobos found Letz in the right corner, and she buried a three-pointer for a 56-52 edge with 2:34 left. Sheena Moore converted an offensive rebound at the other end to bring UNLV within two, 56-54 with 1:12 on the clock. Mandi Moore made one of two at the line for a three-point lead for UNM, and Sheena Moore's pass was stolen by Letz, who then sank two free throws with 26 seconds left to seal the win, as the Lady Rebels missed three straight three-point attempts to end the game.

UNLV opened the game with a 7-2, with all seven points from Sheena Moore. New Mexico battled back into the game, and the score was tied at 16-16 with 8:32 left, before the Lobos ended the half on a blitzing 24-10 run, as they made eight of their final nine shots. Sheena Moore finished the half 5-of-6 from the floor, but the rest of the Lady Rebels were a combined 4-of-22, and the team was just 6-of-11 at the line.

Sheena Moore paced UNLV with a career-high tying 26 points, but MWC leading scorer RanDee Henry was held to just 10 points, while Sherry McCracklin scored five points, including a 1-of-5 performance at the line. McCracklin posted a game-high nine rebounds, while Henry and Nikki Hitchens both added seven. UNLV shot 34.5% (19-55) for the game, 12.5% (2-16) from three-point range, and 60.9% (14-23) at the line. The Lady Rebels did have a 36-27 rebounding advantage, including 19-4 on the offensive boards.

Forest led New Mexico with 14 points and six rebounds, while Mandi Moore and Fatima Maddox both added 11. The Lobos shot 56.1% (23-41) for the game, 23.1% (3-13) from downtown, and 62.5% (10-16) at the line.

The Lady Rebels will play their final regular season home game as they host Air Force on Saturday at 7:30 pm in the Cox Pavilion. It is also Senior Night for UNLV, and the Lady Rebels' two seniors, InFini Robinson and Padra Strong, will be honored before the game.