March 4, 2006

Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas - Ashley Davis hit two free throws with 0.9 seconds left to send the game into overtime, and TCU took advantage of UNLV playing the extra period without two fouled out starters to claim an 82-77 victory in the regular season finale for both teams in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon from the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

The loss means UNLV, 17-10 overall and 9-7 in league play, will be the sixth seed in next week's Xbox Live Mountain West Conference Women's Basketball Championships in Denver. The Lady Rebels will play in the quarterfinals at 1:30 pm against the third-seed New Mexico Lobos.

UNLV actually held a 15-point lead in the first half and led 40-33 at halftime, but couldn't overcome the Lady Frogs advantage at the line. The Lady Rebels were called for a season-high 33 fouls, to just 16 for the home squad. That resulted in TCU taking 45 trips to the free throw line, where they made 37 for 82.2%. UNLV shot 14-of-19 for 73.7%.

TCU stayed close to the Lady Rebels in the second stanza, eventually tying the game for the first time since the opening tipoff at 57-57 with 6:32 to play. Davis' trey at 5:49 gave the Lady Frogs their first lead of the game, 60-59, though Sheena Moore answered back with a trey for UNLV. The game was tight for the last five minutes, and after Andrianne Ross converted a layup for a 68-66 lead, Sherry McCracklin answered back with one on the other end to tie the game at 68 with 1:03 to play. UNLV forced a turnover on the next possession, and Moore missed a layup, but McCracklin grabbed the rebound and was fouled attempting a shot. She nailed both for a 70-68 UNLV lead with 11 seconds to go. TCU missed two shots to tie the game, but on the second rebound, McCracklin was called for a foul with 0.9 seconds to go, her fifth foul. Lacy was hurt on the play, though she did return in the overtime period, Davis was substituted for her and buried both free throws to tie the score.

UNLV opened overtime without McCracklin and Sequoia Holmes, who fouled out with two minutes left in the second half. TCU opened up a three-point lead, but Brittney Thomas tied the score on a trey with 3:14 on the clock. Moore then added a short jumper to give UNLV a 77-75 lead, but the Lady Rebels missed their last four shots, while the Lady Frogs were sent to the line eight times, and made seven to pull out the 82-77 victory.

UNLV never trailed in the first half, scoring the game's first four points. With the Lady Rebels holding a 21-19 edge, Thomas hit a trey first of seven unanswered points. The Lady Rebels would actually outscore TCU 19-6 over a five-minute span, taking a 40-25 lead with three minutes left in the half. TCU climbed back in the game however, as Ross made four free throws and Natasha Lacy converted a pair of layups to give the Lady Frogs the last eight points of the half.

The loss offset an outstanding game by Moore, as she came within one rebound of posting the third triple-double in school history with 20 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. She also became the ninth Lady Rebels to score 1,500 career points at UNLV with her final basket. McCracklin also scored 20 points and added nine rbounds, while Holmes added 14 points. Thomas finished with 11 off the bench. Two other players also fouled out during the game, Nikki Hitchens (six points) and Kisha Lee (four points). UNLV shot 55% for the first half, but made just 12-of-35 after and finished 28-of-64 for 43.8%. The Lady Rebels were outrebounded 49-37, and were 7-of-20 (35%) from three-point range.

Both Davis and Ross finished the game 9-of-10 at the line, and finished with 19 and 17 points respectively. Lacy added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Frogs. TCU shot 33.9% for the game, and were just 3-of-18 from three-point range.