March 12, 2004

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DENVER, Colo. - Utah rallied from an 11-point first half deficit and Shona Thorburn scored 14 second-half points to rally the Utes past UNLV 59-55 in the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon at the Pepsi Center. The Lady Rebels had began the game on an 11-0 run, and held an eight-point lead in the second half, but were forced into 10 turnovers over the final 20 minutes. With the win, Utah improves to 24-6 on the year, and will take on New Mexico in the MWC Championship game on Saturday, while the Lady Rebels fall to 22-7.

UNLV made four of its first seven shots, including three from three-point range, to take an 11-0 lead with 14:29 left in the first half. The Utes climbed back into the game with seven straight points, and cut the lead to one at 16-15. With the score 27-24 in favor of UNLV, Thorburn missed a jumper for Utah, and InFini Robinson's shot from just behind halfcourt banked in at the buzzer to give the Lady Rebels a 30-24 lead entering halftime. UNLV finished the first half 6-of-9 from three-point range, with three treys from Robinson as she finished the half with 13 points.

The Utes played tighter defense on the Lady Rebel guards in the second half, and were able to shut down the inside threat of Sherry McCracklin and RanDee Henry to bring themselves back into the game. A Henry layup gave UNLV a 34-26 edge, but Utah used a 9-2 spurt to cut the lead to one, 36-35, with 14:20 left in the game. The teams traded baskets before Thorburn's layup with 11:05 on the clock gave Utah a 39-38 advantage, a lead they would not give up. On the next play, Henry was called for a foul going for a steal, and picked up a technical foul as well, forcing her to the bench with her fourth foul. Utah ran off four straight with Henry on the bench, and increased its lead to 52-44 with 3:56 on the clock. The Lady Rebels rallied, and cut the lead to three, 58-55, with 13 seconds left, but Utah hit one of two at the line to escape with the 59-55 victory.

Robinson led UNLV with 17 points, while Sheena Moore added 16 as she was 4-of-6 from three-point range. Henry also scored in double figures with 13. McCracklin grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, but was held to 0-of-6 shooting from the floor and just five points for the game. UNLV shot 8-of-14 from three-point range (57.1%), 20-of-48 (41.7%) from the floor, and attempted a season-low nine free throw attempts (7-of-9, 77.8%).

Thorburn led Utah with 23 points, while Kelsy Stireman was 5-of-5, including 3-of-3 from downtown for 13 points. Mis Smith scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds for Utah. The Utes shot 46.7%, including 50% in the second half, and turned the ball over just 10 times, while forcing 14 UNLV turnovers.

UNLV will await word on Sunday to whether it will receive an invite to the NCAA or the WNIT tournament