March 21, 2004

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - UNLV's "Big Three" scored 62 of the Lady Rebels' 68 total points, but InFini Robinson came up with the biggest points of the day, as her jumper with 38 seconds left gave UNLV a one-point lead, and she added two free throws with 14 seconds left for a three-point edge as UNLV rallied for a 68-66 victory over Rice in second round action of the Postseason Women's NIT on Sunday afternoon from the Cox Pavilion. With the win, the Lady Rebels improved to 24-7 on the year, and advance to the WNIT quarterfinals for the first time in school history. They host for the third straight round, and face Western Kentucky on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm in the Cox. Rice finished its season at 22-10.

While Robinson scored the game-winner, it was the Sheena Moore show for UNLV, as the sophomore guard torched the Lady Owls for a career-high 33 points. She was 10-of-17 from the floor, 11-of-14 at the line, and added four assists, four steals, and a career-high eight rebounds. Joining her in double figures was the rest of the "Big Three", as RanDee Henry posted her 12th double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Sherry McCracklin added 10 points and six rebounds.

The game was tight throughout the second half, with Rice leading for the majority of the time. After a technical foul was called on the UNLV bench with 6:32 left in the game, Lindsey Maynard sank the ensuring two free throws for Rice, and added a layup 16 seconds later for a 59-53 edge. UNLV answered back with five straight points to close within 59-58, before Latrice Elder pushed Rice back up by three with a pair of free throws. Moore sank two free throws for UNLV, and Elder converted a layup at the other end to make the score 63-60 with 2:21 left. The UNLV backcourt then took over the game, as Moore grabbed a defensive rebound and was fouled. She made both with 1:25 on the clock to bring the Lady Rebels within one, 63-62.

UNLV got the ball back after a missed Rice jumper, and Robinson nailed a 15-foot jumper with 38 seconds left for a 64-63 edge. Robinson then rebounded the Lady Owls' miss on the other end and was fouled. She made both free throws for a three-point Lady Rebel edge. Henry added two insurance free throws with five seconds left for a 68-63 advantage with five seconds to go, and Michelle Woods hit a trey at the buzzer for the final score of 58-55.

Rice started the game on fire, hitting six of its first eight shots on the way to building a 14-4 lead. Foul trouble began to catch up with the Lady Owls however, allowing the Lady Rebels to climb back into the game. UNLV trailed by as much as 12 in the first half, and were down 28-18 with 7:30 left, but used a 10-3 run to end the half down just one after Moore hit a running jumper at the buzzer, the Lady Rebels' third straight halftime buzzer-beater shot.

UNLV shot 42% (21-50) for the game, and 77.4% (24-31) at the line. The Lady Rebels held a 38-25 edge on the boards, including 15-6 on the offensive, and finished with 12 steals for the game.

Rice was led by Lauren Neaves and Maynard, both with 18 points. Woods and Elder both added 10 for the Lady Owls. As a team, they shot 47.2% from the floor (25-53), and 92.9% at the line (13-14), and finished with seven blocks.