Feb. 4, 2006

Box Score

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Wyoming hit nine three-pointers in the game, including seven in the first half to hand UNLV a 53-50 loss in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon from Arena Auditorium. The game was delayed by 20 minutes late in the second half when Lady Rebel forward Sherry McCracklin suffered an injury on the court, and was eventually taken off on a stretcher to a local hospital.

McCracklin had been the main star for UNLV up into that point, as she was leading the team with 17 points. With 3:48 to play in the game and Wyoming holding a 48-46 lead, McCracklin drew a charge on Michelle Taylor and hit her head as she fell to the court.

When the game returned to action, Sequoia Holmes tied the game on a layup, but after a Cowgirl miss on the other end, UNLV turned the ball over, and Erin Hicks went down the lane and converted a layup for Wyoming for a 50-48 lead with 2:28 to play. UNLV struggled to find its offense without McCracklin, coming up scoreless on four straight trips while Hicks made three of six at the line in the final 25 seconds. Kisha Lee made a layup for UNLV with .6 on the clock to close within 52-50, but the Lady Rebels were forced to send Hicks to the line, and her free throw sealed the three-point win.

UNLV held the lead the entire first half, twice taking seven-point leads, but Wyoming's amazing three-point shooting kept them in the game, as the Cowgirls hit 7-of-14 in the first half. The Lady Rebels still held a 31-28 halftime edge however, thanks to 11 points from McCracklin. UNLV also shot 53.8% (14-of-26) from the floor. The Cowgirls hit 10-of-24 for the opening half, but were just 3-of-10 on shots inside the arc.

A long Jodi Bolerjack trey to open the second half started a 7-0 run from Wyoming, giving them a 35-31 edge. They would increase the lead to six twice, the last on a layup from Hanna Zavecz. Sheena Moore answered back with a trey and a layup to cut the edge to 43-42. After the teams traded baskets, another Bolerjack trey made the score 48-44, but McCracklin countered with a layup on the other end with four minutes to play to bring UNLV within 48-46.

McCracklin finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, while Moore also posted double figures with 11. Holmes was the next highest scorer for UNLV with six, and a game-high seven rebounds. The Lady Rebels shot 43.1% (22-of-51) for the game, and were just one-of-eight (12.5%) from three-point range. They did hold a 36-25 edge on the boards.

Bolerjack was 5-of-7 from three-point range, and finished with 17 points to lead Wyoming, while Zavecz added 13 points for the Cowgirls, who shot 41.3% (19-of-46) for the game, and were 9-of-20 (45.0%) from behind the arc.

UNLV will return to action next Saturday, Feb. 11, hosting BYU at 7 pm in the Cox Pavilion. The game is "Sell Out The Cox Night", with all tickets going for just one dollar, and it will also be National Girls and Women in Sports Day for the Lady Rebels that night.