Nov. 26, 2005

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - UNLV completely overwhelmed Tennessee Tech on the boards with a 46-24 advantage in a 65-55 win in the championship game of the Lady Rebel Shootout on Saturday afternoon from the Thomas & Mack Center. The Lady Rebels (3-1) grabbed 23 offensive rebounds in the game, and held a 20-5 edge on second chance points on their way to their second straight win. The victory gave them the tournament title for the fourth time in the last six years, and it was their seventh championship in the 14-year history of the tournament. In the consolation game, Chattanooga (2-3) hit eight of its first 10 shots from three-point range on the way to a 78-69 win over Stephen F. Austin (1-3).

Tennessee Tech (3-1) began the game with a 9-5 edge, thanks to five straight points from Kendall Cavin. A jumper from Kisha Lee began an 18-4 spurt for UNLV, and Kameca Simmons capped the run at 7:42 with a layup to give the Lady Rebels a 23-13 lead. The Golden Eaglettes cut the lead to four, but UNLV would score the final six points of the half, and Simmons converted a jumper at the buzzer for a 31-21 edge going into halftime. UNLV outscored TTU 24-12 in the paint in the first half, and received 14 points from its bench, to zero for the visitors.

Though UNLV led the entire second half, TTU kept the score close, and used another five unanswered points from Cavin to come within two points, 43-41 with 9:43 to play. Lee would answer back for the Lady Rebels, converting a three-point play on the other end, and then tipping in a missed three-pointer to push the lead back to seven points. Tennessee Tech would come no closer then five points the rest of the way.

Nikki Hitchens posted 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists on the way to earning tournament MVP honors. Kisha Lee led UNLV with 13 points and nine rebounds, and was also named to the all-tournament team. Sherry McCracklin and Sheena Moore both finished with nine points, while Faye Muller grabbed nine rebounds. The Lady Rebels shot 43.3% (29-67) for the game, including 48.3% (14-of-29) in the second half, though they struggled behind the arc, hitting just 2-of-13 for 15.4%. They forced TTU into 17 turnovers, and came up with 11 steals.

Cavin paced the Golden Eaglettes with 21 points, while Emily Christian and Deanna Apple both finished with 10. Cavin and Christian were both named all-tournament as well. TTU shot 44.2% for the game, but attempted 15 less shots.

In the consolation game, Chattanooga hit 8-of-11 three-pointers in the first half, including a 5-of-5 performance from Brooke Hand, to take a 47-26 halftime edge, and the Lady Mocs held on for the 78-69 win. Hand finished with 22 points, while Katasha Brown added 13. LaToya Mills paced SFA with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Both Brown and Mills were selected to the all-tournament team.