Feb. 8, 2004

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - In a matchup of the top two teams in the Mountain West Conference, Utah used a 17-0 run midway though the second half to take command of the game and post a 72-55 victory over UNLV in women's collegiate basketball action on Sunday afternoon from the Thomas & Mack Center. The Lady Rebels, who lost for the first time at home this season in 13 games, fell to 16-4 overall, and are now tied for second in the conference at 5-2 with New Mexico. The Utes improved to 17-4 overall and 7-0 in the MWC with their seventh straight win.

Utah began the second half on an 8-2 run, taking a 43-32 lead on Shona Thorburn's jumper with 16:35 left in the second half. The Lady Rebels responded eight unanswered points, with four points apiece from InFini Robinson and Sheena Moore. Following a Ute basket, Kameca Simmons followed with a jumper to make the score 45-42 with 12:25 left on the clock. That was the last UNLV basket for the next six minutes, as Lana Sitterud's trey ignited a 17-0 run for Utah. UNLV missed six straight shots during the scoreless drought, until Moore's layup with 6:26 left, making the score 62-44. The Lady Rebels could come no closer then 14 points the rest of the way.

The Lady Rebels led just once in the game, at 3-2. Utah opened up a nine-point lead with 4:49 left in the first half, 28-19, but a 9-2 UNLV spurt cut the lead to 30-28 with 2:29 on the clock. A Robinson layup made the score 32-30 with 47 seconds to play in the half, but the Utes hit one of two at the line and converted a layup at the buzzer to take a 35-30 halftime advantage.

UNLV was held to under 60 points for just the second time this season, and the 17-point loss was its worst since a 77-58 loss at Oregon State in the first round of the WNIT on Mar. 7, 2003. RanDee Henry entered the game as the MWC's leading scorer, but was held to single digits for the first time this season, hitting just 1-of-11 from the field on the way to six points. The Lady Rebels shot 33.9% for the game, and were 4-of-19 from three-point range, including 0-for-8 in the second half. Moore led the team with 21 points, while Sherry McCracklin added 12 points and six rebounds.

Utah was paced by Kim Smith's double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kelsy Stireman posted 16 points, while Sitterud came off the bench with 12. The Utes shot 54.2% for the game, and were 16-of-19 at the line. They also held a 34-33 rebounding advantage, marking just the fourth time this season UNLV has been outrebounded in game.

The Lady Rebels begin the second half of the MWC schedule as they go on the road to face San Diego State on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 5 pm.