Nov. 20, 2006

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - Down by 15 early in the second half, UNLV held Cal State Bakersfield to just 10 points over the final 14 minutes, while Sequoia Holmes and Samantha Stickler each turned in big second half performances to lead the Lady Rebels to their first win of the season, 60-52 over Cal State Bakersfield in women's collegiate basketball action on Monday night from the Cox Pavilion.

Holmes finished the game with 22 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for a double-double, with 16 of her points coming in the second half. Stickler meanwhile was playing in just her fourth career game, and first of the season after undergoing knee surgery in the beginning of the month.

The two would hook up for the key stretch of the game, following a pair of free throws that gave UCSB (1-1) a three-point edge with 4:52 to play. Holmes knocked in a pair of free throws of her own to bring UNLV (1-2) within one, and then fed Stickler for a layup for a 51-50 Lady Rebel lead, their first of the game. Florida Siaosi scored on a putback to give the advantage back to the Roadrunners, but Holmes found Stickler down low twice more for layups for a three-point lead. Holmes sealed the game with a steal and layup with 44 seconds to play, as UNLV scored the final nine points of the game.

CSUB began the game on fire, hitting 10 of its first 13 shots to open up a 23-7 lead just eight minutes into the contest. The Roadrunners' lead was in double digits for the majority of the rest of the half, and they would finish the opening 20 minutes shooting 47 percent (15-of-32) from the floor. UNLV made just 9-of-28 for 32 percent and trailed 34-22 going into the break.

The lead was extended to 15 points for CSUB off a three-point play by Krista Arase to begin the second half. UNLV cut the lead down to seven off eight unanswered points, with Holmes' short jumper making the score 37-30. The Roadrunners struck back with a 5-0 run, taking a 42-30 lead with 14:21 to play. Holmes then took the game over, scoring six straight points off a three-pointer and a three-point play, to cut the lead to just four. Her scoring burst ignited the Lady Rebel comeback, as they would outscore CSUB 30-10 over the final 14 minutes.

Holmes finished the game hitting 8-of-18, and added five assists and three steals. Shamela Hampton scored nine points for UNLV, all in the first half, while Brittany Halberg and Stickler both finished with eight. Faye Muller added six points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Rebels finished the game shooting 23-of-57 for 40.4%, and outrebounded an opponent for the first time this year, 44-43. They also turned the ball over a season-low 16 times.

Rhonda Johnson led the Roadrunners with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jessi Loring was next with nine points, with Siaosi coming off the bench to score seven. CSUB made just seven baskets in the second half, and finished 22-of-63 for 34.9%, and were 2-of-15 from three-point range for 13.3%.

UNLV concludes its five-game homestand this weekend, hosting the Lady Rebel Shootout on Friday and Saturday in the Thomas & Mack Center. Kansas State and Wisconsin play in the first game at 2 pm, followed by Elon and UNLV at 4:30 pm. Saturday's games will be at 1 and 3:30 pm.