Nov. 9, 2006

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - UNLV sophomore center Shamela Hampton scored 20 of her game-high 29 points in the first half and three more Lady Rebels scored in double-figures in an 80-67 win over Melbourne Roos in the team's only exhibition game of the season on Thursday night in the Cox Pavilion.

The game was close for the first six minutes, but with the Lady Rebels holding a five-point edge, Hampton took over the game. She outscored the entire Melbourne team 9-2 over the next four minutes, giving UNLV a 23-11 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the first half. The Roos closed to within eight with five minutes to play on a shot by Kelly Bowen, but Hampton answered with back-to-back layups to push the lead to 12, and UNLV would take an 11-point edge into halftime.

After a Sequoia Holmes trey gave UNLV a 14-point lead, 47-33, turnovers by the Lady Rebels helped Melbourne climb back into the game. The Roos scored eight unanswered, six by Bowen, to cut the edge to just six points, 47-41. The Lady Rebels then put the game away with a 6-0 run of their own, capped by a layup from Kisha Lee. UNLV's lead would grow to as much as 17, 72-55, off another Holmes three-pointer.

Hampton finished with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Holmes also posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, along with five assists and four steals. Lee posted 11 points, while Allison Holiday recorded 10 points and eight assists. UNLV shot 44.8% (30-of-67) from the floor, and held a 49-35 edge on the boards.

Bowen paced Melbourne with 22 points. Emma Andrews chipped in 11, while Dayna Schniz came off the bench to score 10. The Roos shot 42.5% (31-of-73), and turned the ball over 19 times.

UNLV will open the regular season on Sunday, taking on Pepperdine at 2:30 pm in the Thomas & Mack Center, in a game televised by the mtn.