Dec. 21, 2006

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - Vivian Ewalefo scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half to help carry UT-San Antonio past UNLV by a score of 70-62 in the consolation game of the third annual Duel In The Desert on Thursday night in the Cox Pavilion. In the championship game, Tournament MVP Katie Geralds scored 33 points to lead 13th-ranked Purdue past Boise State 80-64.

The Lady Rebels, who lost their second straight to drop to 4-6, were tied at the half with the Roadrunners but scored the first four points of the final 20 minutes for a 35-31 edge. Both teams then each made runs to take the lead back, and the score was tied four more in the half, the last at 11:32 on a layup from Sequoia Holmes. Ewalefo would answer on the other end however with a layup for a 49-47 UTSA edge at 11:07, a lead the Roadrunners would not give up the rest of the contest.

The game would remain close for the next nine minutes, as the Lady Rebels closed to within one, again on a Holmes layup with 4:18 left. Terrie Davis then made two big plays, as she converted a three-point play, and then after two UNLV turnovers and a missed shot, hit another jumper for a 63-57 UTSA lead with just 2:17 left in the game. The Roadrunners finished the game with a three-point play and went four-of-four at the line to finish with the eight-point victory.

The first half was a very tight affair, with a total of 10 lead changes and six ties, while neither team led by more then five points.

Kisha Lee led UNLV with a season-high 18 points, while Holmes and Brittany Halberg both finished with 13. As a team, the Lady Rebels shot 38.8% (26-of-67) from the floor, but were just 1-of-11 from downtown for 9.1%. UNLV was also outrebounded by six, 38-32.

Ewalefo led four Roadrunners in double figures with her 18, and added 13 rebounds for a double-double. Lynsey Freeman was next with 15 points, while Davis added 13 points and Tia Bogan 10. UTSA shot 50.9% (27-of-53), including 57% in the second half. The Roadrunners also missed just two free throws (15-of-17).

Holmes was named to the All-Tournament Team, as was Ewalefo, Tasha Harris and Jessica Thompson of Boise State, and Erin Lawless of Purdue.

UNLV will break for Christmas before returning to action on Thursday, Dec. 28 against 17th-ranked DePaul at 7 pm in the Cox Pavilion, in a game televised on the mtn. network.