Feb. 1, 2007
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - UNLV held Colorado State to just 30% shooting from the floor and withstood a late rally to post a 57-46 victory on Thursday night in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action from the Cox Pavilion. The win evened both the Lady Rebels' overall record (10-10) and conference mark (4-4), while CSU dropped to 6-14, 1-7 in the MWC.
Shamela Hampton paced UNLV with 11 points, while Sequoia Holmes added 10 points and Faye Muller seven. All three players finished with nine rebounds each as well, as the Lady Rebels held a 45-35 edge on the boards. Allison Holiday, who set a new career-high, and Brittany Halberg both posted nine points each.
The Rams held an early 5-2 lead, but UNLV used a 13-3 spurt to go up 15-8 with 10 minutes left in the first half. UNLV would not trail the rest of the game, though CSU did tie the score at 15-15 on a jumper from Sara Hunter. Following a three-pointer from Ashley McFarland that cut UNLV's lead to 20-18, the Lady Rebels closed out the half with five unanswered over the final three minutes for a 25-18 edge going into the break.
Back-to-back treys in the second half brought CSU within five, 29-24 with 15:34 on the clock. That was the closest the Rams would come the rest of the game, as a 10-2 UNLV run pushed the lead back up to 13. A Hampton free throw capped the run, making the score 39-26 with 10:50 to play. The lead increased to as high as 17, 49-32, with 7:22 left in the game. Hunter scored eight of her game-high 18 points in the final three minutes to make the score close, but the margin never dipped into single digits, and UNLV held on for its fourth straight win over the Rams.
Key to the game was UNLV's defense, as it held CSU to just 30.4% (17-of-56) from the floor, and 25% (8-of-32) from behind the arc. The Rams were also forced into 21 turnovers, and the Lady Rebels held a 20-5 edge on points off turnovers.
Another key was the Lady Rebels' ability to get to the line, as they made 17-of-30 for 56.7%. CSU, which mostly settled for long range shots during the game, attempted just eight free throws and made four. UNLV finished the game shooting 37.3% overall (19-of-51), and had 10 steals and four blocks.
Hunter was the lone Ram in double figures. McFarland, who was 3-of-12 from three-point range, finished with nine points, while Juanise Cornell added five points and 10 rebounds.
UNLV now begins the second half of conference play on Saturday night, hosting TCU at 7 pm in the Cox Pavilion, part of the National Girls and Women in Sport Day at UNLV. All tickets are $1 as well.
