Nov. 12, 2006

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - UNLV made just five shots from the floor in the first half to trail 31-15, and finished shooting 33% for the game in a season-opening loss to Pepperdine (1-1) on Sunday afternoon in women's collegiate basketball action from the Thomas & Mack Center.

The loss broke a 10-game winning streak in the TMC for the Lady Rebels, while the 42 points was the fewest scored by UNLV since a 74-36 loss at Colorado State on March 5, 2003.

Foul trouble to starting center Shamela Hampton hurt the Lady Rebels in the first half. Coming off a 29-point performance three days ago in an exhibition game, Hampton picked up two fouls in the first three minutes. With her absence, UNLV struggled from the floor, missing eight of its first nine shots while falling behind 13-2 nine minutes into the game. A Kisha Lee three-point play brought UNLV within eight, 13-5, but after the teams traded baskets, a 6-0 spurt pushed the Waves back up by 14, and they led in double-figures the rest of the half, taking a 16-point edge into the break. UNLV was 5-of-20 from the floor in the half for 25%, while Pepperdine finished 11-of-26 for 42.3%.

The Lady Rebels made a slight run in the second half, holding Pepperdine to just two points over the first six minutes. A 9-2 UNLV run brought the deficit down to 11, 35-24, following a three-point play from Sequoia Holmes. With UNLV trailing 41-28, the Waves put the game away with nine unanswered points for a 22-point lead with just nine minutes to play. The lead grew as high as 25, 55-30, before the UNLV closed the game by scoring 12 of the last 14 points of the game.

Lee paced UNLV with 10 points, while Hampton had eight points and three rebounds, despite having just three fouls and no points at halftime. Muller posted six points and a game-high eight rebounds, and Holmes finished with six points and tied her career-high with six steals. UNLV finished the game 15-of-46 form the floor for 32.6%, was 3-of-15 from three-point range (20.0%), and 9-of-16 at the line (56.3%). The Lady Rebels were outrebounded by 10, 39-29, and turned the ball over 27 times. They did finish with 10 steals and six blocks.

Pepperdine was led by Teiosha George and Daphanie Kennedy, both with 12 points, while Miranda Ayim came off the bench to score 11. The Waves shot 41.8% (23-of-55), and were 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.

UNLV continues its five-game homestand this Saturday, hosting Michigan at 3 pm in the Cox Pavilion.