Dec. 20, 2007
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - Despite playing without its starting backcourt, UNLV (4-6) turned in a strong defensive performance, holding Austin Peay (4-6) to its lowest score in the school's history in a 56-38 Lady Rebel victory on Thursday night in the second game of the Lady Rebel Christmas Classic from the Cox Pavilion. UNLV won its second straight game to advance to the championship game against Liberty (10-1), who defeated Ball State (3-8) 68-56 in the first game of the day.
UNLV got just one minute total from usual starters Brittany Halberg (concussion) and Dominique Harris (sick, one minute off the bench), but their replacements more then made up for the absences. Allison Holiday and Fanny Tirtiaux both received their first starts of the season, and turned in career-highs in scoring, with Holiday posting a game-high 12 points, while Tirtiaux chipped in nine.
The Lady Rebels trailed just once, 2-0, but scored the next nine points to open up a 9-2 edge five minutes into the contest. UNLV would hold a 20-9 advantage with 6:37 to play, before the Lady Govs made their one rally of the game. Austin Peay scored eight unanswered points over a four-minute span to close within 20-17. The Lady Rebels quickly answered back however, as a offensive rebound and putback by Latoya Hunt began an 8-0 run over the final two minutes of the half to push UNLV back up by 11, 28-17 to end the half. Austin Peay would finish the opening 20 minutes making just 3-of-20 from the floor for 15%.
UNLV then put the game away by scoring the first six points of the second half. Shamela Hampton's layup with 17:35 left completed the 14-0 run and gave the Lady Rebels a 36-17 edge. The closest Austin Peay would come the rest of the game was 12 points, 39-27, but another 8-0 UNLV run pushed the score to 50-30, the largest lead of the game for the home squad.
Joining Holiday in double figures for UNLV was Sequoia Holmes with 11 points and Hampton with 10. UNLV shot 41.8% for the game, held a 41-35 edge on the boards, and posted a season-high 15 steals. The Lady Rebels held Austin Peay to just 22.7% (10-of-44) shooting from the floor for the game, and forced 26 turnovers.
The Lady Govs were paced by Amber Bacon's 11 points, while Ashley Herring added 10.
UNLV and Liberty will now meet in Friday's championship game at 7:30 pm, while Ball State and Austin Peay will play in the consolation game at 5 pm.
