Jan. 29, 2008
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - TCU knocked down eight three-pointers and held off a second-half rally to post a 56-38 victory over UNLV in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action on Tuesday night from the Cox Pavilion. With its fourth straight loss, the Lady Rebels dropped to 6-13 overall, 2-4 in league play, while TCU improved to 11-9, and 4-2 in the MWC.
In a game in which the majority of the statistics were fairly even, the biggest difference was in three-point shooting. The Lady Frogs knocked down 8-of-21 from behind the arc for 38.1%, including six in the first half during which it opened up a 27-18 lead. UNLV meanwhile made just 2-of-14 from long range for 14.3%.
It was a low scoring contest at the start, with UNLV leading for the majority of the opening nine minutes. TCU then quickly took control, hitting three straight treys in a two-minute span for a 9-0 run and a 16-9 edge with 9:12 left in the first half. After Shamela Hampton made one of two at the line to bring UNLV within six points, 18-12, TCU hit two more treys to open up a 24-12 advantage, and Helen Roden's trey, the sixth of the half for the Lady Frogs, gave them a 27-16 lead with 2:26 to go before halftime. Sequoia Holmes converted a layup in the final minute to bring UNLV within nine, 27-18, at halftime.
The lead stayed between 9-11 points for the first six minutes of the second half for TCU. A 6-0 spurt gave the Lady Frogs their largest lead of the game at 17 points, 41-24 with 11:27 left in the game. They then went the next five minutes scoring a total of four points, but UNLV only cut four points off the lead, and trailed 45-32 following a free throw from Helena Sverrisdottir. The Lady Rebels then made a run at TCU, holding the visitors without a point for the next four minutes. Back-to-back baskets from Brittany Halberg, a three-pointer and a long jumper, brought UNLV within single digits, 45-37 with 2:42 to play. TCU killed the rally when Sverrisdottir drained a trey at the shot clock buzzer on the next possession, and the Lady Frogs scored the last eight points of the game by making 8-of-10 at the free throw line.
Holmes recorded her third double-double of the season with game-highs of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Halberg was the next highest scorer with nine points and six rebounds, while Hampton grabbed nine rebounds. UNLV shot 30.0% (15-of-50) from the floor, and were 6-of-14 from the line for 42.9%. TCU held a 48-38 rebounding advantage, and UNLV was forced into 19 turnovers. The Lady Rebels did have eight blocks in the game, with Hampton and Latoya Hunt both having a career-high four each.
Sverrisdottir and Roden both scored 11 points to pace TCU, while Lori Butler-Rayford added 10 points, and Jenna Lohse had 10 rebounds off the bench. The Lady Frogs shot 30.5% (18-of-59), and made just 12-of-21 at the line for 57.1%.
UNLV will return to action this weekend, when it takes to the road to face New Mexico in Albuquerque on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 6 pm (PST).
