Dec. 30, 2006

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - UNLV sophomore center Shamela Hampton scored a career-high 30 points and the Lady Rebels shot 61% in the second half to outlast in-state rival Nevada, Reno 77-63 on Saturday afternoon from the Cox Pavilion in women's collegiate basketball action. It was the seventh-straight win for UNLV over the Wolf Pack, and both teams now have identical 6-6 records.

The Lady Rebels held a 30-27 halftime edge, but it was a tight battle for the opening five minutes of the second half, as the lead switched hands six times. A layup from Jessica Preslar gave UNR a 39-38 lead with 15:39 on the clock, but that was the last lead they would hold the rest of the game. UNLV first ran off eight straight points to open a 46-39 edge with 13:40 to play. Following a pair of Wolf Pack free throws, the Lady Rebels then took control of the game with a 15-4 spurt over the next seven minutes, and the run featured a four-minute scoreless drought by the Wolf Pack. A layup from Sequoia Holmes capped the run, making the score 61-45 with 6:35 to play.

UNR made one final rally, scoring six straight to close within eight, 65-57 with four minutes to play, but UNLV answered back with three straight to go back up by double figures. The Wolf Pack would come no closer then nine the rest of the way.

Neither team could take control in the first half. UNLV used a 10-0 spurt for a 19-10 lead with 8:15 to play in the half, before the Wolf Pack took back the lead with a 12-2 spurt of their own. The Lady Rebels would score five of the last six points of the half for a 30-27 lead going into the break.

Hampton scored 15 points in each half, and finished 11-of-13 from the floor, and 8-of-12 from the line. She also added 10 rebounds for her second career double-double. Holmes added 12 points and six steals, while Latosha Pace and Kameca Simmons both added 11 each. Faye Muller led the team with a game-high 12 rebounds. As a team, UNLV shot a season-high 53.7% (29-of-54), including 17-of-28 in the second half for 53.7%. The Lady Rebels held a 34-32 edge on the boards, and forced 25 turnovers while finishing with 11 steals.

Dellena Criner led UNR with 17 points, while Marissa Hammond scored 10 off the bench. The Wolf Pack shot 40.4% for the game, but just 1-of-11 from downtown, and finished with eight steals, almost half their season average.

UNLV returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 3, opening its Mountain West Conference schedule at TCU in Fort Worth in a 10 am (PST) contest.