Dec. 28, 2006

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - UNLV raced out to a 21-point halftime lead, and used a balanced attack with five players in double figures as the Lady Rebels pulled off one of the biggest upset in the nation this year with their 89-71 victory over 19th-ranked DePaul on Thursday night from the Cox Pavilion in women's collegiate basketball action. The win, which broke UNLV's two-game losing streak, moved the Lady Rebels to 5-6 on the year, while the Blue Demons dropped to 10-3 with their second straight loss to a Mountain West conference opponent.

With the victory, UNLV not only set a new season-high for points with 89, but it also gave the Lady Rebels their third win in their last four games against a top-25 team, after back-to-back wins last March against No. 21 New Mexico. It is also the fifth win over a ranked team in head coach Regina Miller's nine-years at UNLV, but easily by the largest margin.

For the first time this season UNLV had five players in finishing in double figures, led by Brittany Halberg's career-high 21 points and eight assists. She was also 11-of-12 at the line, just missing tying the school record with her last free throw after making 11 straight. Free throw shooting was one of the keys on the night, as the Lady Rebels entered the game ranked 322nd in the nation for the year, but made a season-high 82% (27-of-33) from the charity stripe.

Also scoring in double figures was Faye Muller with her best game of the year, as she recorded a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, to go along with four assists, five steals, and three blocks. Sequoia Holmes and Shamela Hampton both added 16 points, while Kisha Lee came off the bench with 10.

Both teams started out hot, but following a tip-in from DePaul's Jenna Rubino, UNLV held the Blue Demons scoreless for the next six minutes. The Lady Rebels ran off 13 unanswered during that stretch for a 23-10 lead. After DePaul closed to within 11, a pair of Brittany Halberg treys bookended a 12-2 run over the next four minutes for a 21-point edge, 35-14 with 5:12 left to play in the half. UNLV would take a 45-24 lead into the break.

It was a fairly even game in the second half, with UNLV leading by as much as 25, 63-38 with 12 minutes to play. DePaul cut the edge to 16 points three times, but the Lady Rebels' free throw shooting kept the Blue Demons at bay.

UNLV shot 44.6% (29-of-65) for the game, and was 4-of-10 from three-point range. The Lady Rebels had a commanding 47-32 rebounding edge, and forced 18 turnovers while committing only 11.

DePaul was paced by Allie Quigley with 19, while Jenna Rubino posted 14 points and Sam Quigley 11. The Blue Demons shot 40.7% (24-of-59) from the floor, and were 8-of-23 (34.8%) from three-point range.

UNLV closes out the 2006 calendar year on Saturday, looking for a sixth-straight win against in-state rival Nevada, Reno. The game will tip-off at 3 pm in the Cox Pavilion.