Feb. 15, 2007
Box Score
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - UNLV cut a 21-point deficit to just eight, but couldn't overcome the host Utah Utes, who opened the second half on a 17-6 run on the way to a 70-55 victory on Thursday night in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action from the Huntsman Center. It was the fourth straight loss for the Lady Rebels, their longest losing streak in MWC play, and sent them to 10-14 overall, 4-8 in league action. Utah improved to 16-9, 9-3 in the conference.
Similar to the first matchup in Las Vegas, neither team shot well in the first half, with Utah taking a 26-17 lead. UNLV began the second half however missing its first five shots, while the Utes connected on eight of its first 10 from the floor. Utah also hit three three-pointers in a two-minute span to open up a 43-23 lead with 14:28 to play in the game.
The lead grew to as high as 21, but with Utah leading 53-34, the Lady Rebels put together a rally. A layup from Faye Muller and a three-point play by Shavonne Burks ignited a 13-2 run over the next four minutes. Sequoia Holmes' three-pointer would bring UNLV within single digits, making the score 55-47 with 5:05 to play. Morgan Warburton answered with four straight points for Utah however, and UNLV came no closer then 10 the rest of the way.
The first half was highlighted by UNLV's struggles from three-point range, as the team made just 1-of-12 from behind the arc. Despite that, the game remained close for the first 15 minutes. After Holmes hit a shot to bring UNLV within 17-13, she went to the bench with her third foul, and the Utes took advantage to run off nine unanswered for a 26-13 lead. UNLV scored the last four points of the half to close within nine entering the break.
Allison Holiday, one of three Lady Rebels in double figures, scored a career-high 11 points and also added four steals and three assists. Holmes was limited by foul trouble, finishing with 11 points in 21 minutes before fouling out. Muller also scored 11 points, and added 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. As a team, UNLV shot 33.9% (19-of-56), and was 5-of-19 from three-point range for 26.3%. The Lady Rebels struggled at the line, making just 12-of-22, and were outrebounded by 16, 44-28.
Two Utes both finished with double-doubles, as Warburton posted 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Kalee Whipple added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Utah shot 46.2% (24-of-52) for the game, including 56.5% in the second half. The Utes also made 6-of-18 from downtown, and were 16-of-19 at the line for 84.2%.
The Lady Rebels will have the weekend off before hosting BYU on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 7 pm in the Cox Pavilion.
