March 28, 2004

Box Score

AMES, Iowa - With UNLV trailing by two in the final minute, Sheena Moore hit a three-pointer with 47 seconds left, the start of eight unanswered points for the Lady Rebels to end the game and send them to championship game of the Postseason Women's NIT as they rallied for a 65-59 win at Iowa State in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum. The Lady Rebels, who trailed by 10 points with 12 minutes to play, improved to 26-7 on the season, with the 26 victories tying for third-most in school history. UNLV, who won its fourth straight game in the WNIT in the final minute, will be making its first-ever WNIT championship appearance, and will take on Creighton in Omaha, Neb., on Tuesday at 7:05 pm. Iowa State finished its season at 18-15.

A free throw from Nikki Hitchens gave UNLV a 29-27 lead one minute into the second half, but seven straight points from Iowa State gave the Cyclones a 34-29 edge. Following a Hitchens layup to cut the lead to 36-35, Iowa State got hot on the permititer, hitting three straight three-pointers during an 11-2 run, with Mary Fox's second trey of the game pushing the lead to 47-37 with 12:13 left in the game. UNLV was just 4-of-21 from downtown until that point, but following a media timeout, hit four straight treys, two each from InFini Robinson and Moore. Two free throws from RanDee Henry completed the 14-3 run for the Lady Rebels, giving them back the lead 51-50 with 8:15 to play.

The lead changed hands three more times, before Katie Robinette drove the lane and scored for a 59-57 ISU lead with 2:04 left. She was fouled on the play, but missed the following free throw. After a missed Moore trey, Henry blocked Medders shot on the other end, and UNLV brought up the ball, setting up Moore's three-point shot. Moore was also fouled on the shot, but missed the free throw. Iowa State had several chances to tie or take the lead at the end, but missed three shots from three-point range, and UNLV made five of six at the line in the final 32 seconds to claim the victory.

Iowa State raced out to an early 8-2 lead just three minuets into the game. The Lady Rebels answered back with seven straight points for a 9-8 edge. With the score tied at 12-12, a 10-3 run gave UNLV its largest lead of the game at seven, 22-15. The Cyclones slowly cut into the lead, and trailed by one going into the half, 29-28.

Moore led four players in double figures for the Lady Rebels, scoring a game-high 17 points and adding six rebounds. Also in double figures was Henry with 14, Hitchens with 13, and Robinson with 10. Sherry McCracklin and Kameca Simmons both grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for the Lady Rebels, who held a 45-36 edge on the boards, including 18-7 on the offensive boards. UNLV shot just 31.1% (19-61) for the game, and shot a school record 30 attempts from three-point range, but also made a season-high nine, including three each from Moore and Robinson. UNLV was 18-of-27 (66.7%) at the line. The Lady Rebels also committed a season-low six turnovers.

Iowa State was paced by Erica Junod with 15 points and seven rebounds. Lyndsey Medders added 12, while Megan Ronhovde added 10 before fouling out. Cyclone leading scorer Anne O'Neil was held scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting for the game. ISU lost despite shooting 43.4% (23-53) for the game, and 40.9% (9-22).