Nov. 12, 2005
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior forward Sherry McCracklin posted 17 points and nine rebounds, and the Lady Rebels used an outstanding defensive game to take a 91-39 win over Grand Canyon University in an exhibition game on Saturday afternoon in the Cox Pavilion.
McCracklin, playing in her first game in 19 months after missing the 2004-05 season with an ankle injury, had a slow start in the first half, hitting just 2-of-7, but made all four of her shots in the second half to lead the team in scoring. Sheena Moore and Kameca Simmons both also posted 10 points after playing just 16 minutes in the game, while Sequoia Holmes and Brittney Thomas added nine each.
The game was in UNLV's hand from the start, as Grand Canyon was forced into 11 turnovers before scoring its first point of the game, and the Lady Rebels had a 14-0 edge before Stacy Haddow broke the run with a free throw at 13:46. UNLV struggled from the floor in the first half, hitting just 31% (13-42), but countered that by forcing 18 GCU turnovers for the half. That was actually seven more then the total points scored in the first half by the Antelopes, as UNLV took a 37-11 edge into halftime.
McCracklin's layup to begin the second half started a 15-1 spurt by UNLV. A layup by Moore capped the run at 15:45 left in the game, making the score 52-12. The Lady Rebels would eventually play all 16 players in the second half, and pushed the lead to as high as 54 points, before finishing with the 52-point victory. UNLV finished hitting 22-of-41 in the second half for 53.7%.
For the game, UNLV shot 42.2% (35-83), was 5-of-15 on three-pointers (33.3%), and hit 16-of-22 at the line for 72.7%. They held a 49-35 edge on the boards, and finished with 15 assists to 10 turnovers, while forcing 34 turnovers by the Lady Lopes.
Stacy Haddow led GCU with eight points, while Sherlyn Hatch and Joey White both posted seven each. As a team, GCU shot 30.2% (13-of-43) for the game, and were just 10-of-21 at the line (47.6%).
UNLV plays its second and final exhibition game of the season on Monday at 7 pm in the Cox Pavilion against Melbourne Roos.
