Dec. 9, 2006

Box Score

LONG BEACH, Calif. - UNLV held Long Beach State to just six points over the final 15 minutes of the game to claim its first road victory of the year, 61-44 on Saturday afternoon in the Walter Pyramid. Sequoia Holmes, who was one rebound away from a triple-double, was one of three Lady Rebels in double figures as they improved to 3-4 with the win, while the host 49ers dropped to 1-8.

Holmes finished the game with 16 points, a career-high 10 assists, and nine rebounds. Shamela Hampton posted a new career-high for UNLV with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Latosha Pace scored 15, 10 in the first half.

Long Beach State had scored the final seven points of the first half to close within one, 32-31. The 49ers then opened the second half with a layup for a 33-32 edge, their only lead of the game. Pace countered however with a three-pointer to give the lead back to UNLV. LBSU would close within one three more times, the last on Karina Figueroa's jumper at 15:46 to make the score 39-38.

That was their last basket for the next eight minutes, thanks to UNLV's defense which caused several turnovers while dominating the boards. Figueroa's jumper at 7:24 cut the lead into single digits, 49-40, but the game was sealed with six unanswered points from UNLV. The Lady Rebels finished the game on a 22-6 run.

UNLV scored the first six points of the game, and jumped out to a 12-5 lead. The 49ers would cut the lead to one, but the Lady Rebels slowly stretched the advantage up to as high as eight. Pace's three-pointer with 3:28 to play in the half gave UNLV a 32-24 lead, but LBSU rallied in the final few minutes.

Also scoring for UNLV was Faye Muller with eight points and eight rebounds, while Brittany Halberg added six. UNLV shot a season-high 45.6% (26-of-57), and was 6-of-8 at the line. The Lady Rebels also held a 36-27 edge on the boards, and forced 23 LBSU turnovers.

Figueroa was the only 49er in double figures with 16. Kaiti O'Brien added eight points and seven rebounds. LBSU shot 50% in the first half, but was held to 5-of-22 shooting in the second for 22.7%.

UNLV will now break for exams before returning to action on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 5 pm against UC Irvine in the Cox Pavilion.