Nov. 30, 2007

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. - UNLV pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in school history, and behind a game-high 25 points from senior forward Sequoia Holmes rallied from a 24-point halftime deficit to upset 16th-ranked George Washington 62-61 on Friday afternoon in the first game of the Lady Privateer Invitational in the Human Performance Center. After scoring just 16 points in the first half and trailing by 25 early in the second half, UNLV outscored GW 46-21 in the second half to earn the upset victory.

The Lady Rebels have now won two straight in games against top-25 competition, after a win over No. 19 DePaul last season, and are 4-1 in their past five games against ranked teams. UNLV moved its record to 2-4 on the season, while the Colonials dropped to 5-3.

UNLV trailed by three in the first half, 13-10, with 12:33 to play, before suddenly going cold, missing its next 10 shots, and managing just two free throws over a 10:05 span. GW took advantage of the scoring drought to post an 18-2 run, and opened up a 33-12 advantage on Sarah-Jo Lawrence's three-point play with 2:43 to play in the half. The Colonials then scored six straight to end the half, and take a 40-16 halftime lead.

The key in the first half was the play of Jazmine and Jessica Adair, twin post players for GW. The two combined for 21 points (14 for Jazmine, seven for Jessica), and were a big reason the Colonals held a 22-9 edge on rebounding, while holding a 20-6 advantage in the paint.

The Lady Rebels played a much better defensive effort in the paint in the second half, holding the Adair sisters to just three combined points over the final 20 minutes. Six minutes into the second half, UNLV already matched its first half output, when Holmes drained a jumper to make the score 48-32 with 14:16 to play. With GW up 50-36 with 12:44 to play, Holmes took over the game, as she scored seven points, part of a 9-0 UNLV run to cut the lead to 50-45 with 10:26 left. The lead then ranged between four-eight points for the next five minutes.

UNLV made its charge to claim the lead with five minutes left, as a pair of free throws from Samantha Stickler made the score 58-54, and a steal and layup by Holmes cut the end to 58-56. GW turned the ball over on the other end, and Holmes drained a three-pointer for UNLV's first lead of the game, 59-58 with 4:02 to play.

The game was back and forth for the last four minutes, with GW first tying it when Lawrence went one-of-two at the line to make it 59-59 with 3:42 left in the contest. Holmes would also go one-of-two at the line with 2:07 left, for a 60-59 UNLV lead. Lawrence answered back with a short jumper from the left baseline that put the Colonials up 61-60, but Holmes came right back down, and nailed a jumper to put UNLV back in front, 62-61, with 51 seconds left. Both teams then forced turnovers, leaving GW with the ball with 20 seconds left. Stefani Munro attempted a jumper from the baseline that was blocked by Holmes, and a scramble for the ball resulted in a jump ball, with the possession arrow giving it to GW with 1.5 seconds left. The only shot the Colonials could get off was a three-point try from Monroe that was off the mark, giving UNLV the victory.

Holmes, who entered the game ranked fifth in the nation averaging 24.6 ppg, finished with 25 points, including 22 in the second half. She also set a new career-high with seven steals, and added a eight rebounds. Also finishing in double figures was Shamela Hampton with 13 points, while Dominique Harris and Stickler both finished with six each. UNLV shot 45.8% for the game, thanks to a blistering 60.7% (17-of-28) in the second half, and were 4-of-9 from downtown for 44.4%. The Lady Rebels came up with a season-high 12 steals as well, while forcing 21 GW turnovers.

Lawrence led the Colonials with 22 points, while Jazmine Adair finished with 17 and Jessica Adair seven. Lisa Steele was the next highest scorer with six points. GW lost despite its 41-29 edge on the boards. The Colonials, who shot 53.6% in the first half, made just 8-of-29 for 27.6% in the second half, and finished 23-of-57 for 40.4%.

UNLV will return to action on Saturday, taking on the host New Orleans Privateers in the second game of the invitational, at 1 pm (PST).