Nov. 29, 2008
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - UNLV shot 66.7% in the second half and used a 20-2 run to take control of the game and claim a 76-65 win over Cal State Fullerton in the consolation game of the Lady Rebel Round-Up on Saturday afternoon in the Cox Pavilion. UNLV improved to 4-1 with the win, while the Titans dropped to 2-3 for the season.
In the championship game, Georgia posted a 75-51 win over Eastern Washington (2-3). Ashley Houts of Georgia was named the tournament MVP.
Trailing by six at halftime, 34-28, UNLV opened the second half on an 11-2 run, with Shamela Hampton's three-point play giving the Lady Rebels its first lead of the game, 39-36 with 16:31 to play. The lead would switch hands five more times, and the Titans took their final lead of the game on Megan Richardson's layup with 11:03 on the clock that made the score 49-48.
UNLV's defense then forced CSU Fullerton to miss 14 of its next 15 shots from the floor, and ran off a 20-2 spurt over a seven-minute span. A Brittany Halberg three-pointer capped the run for the Lady Rebels, putting them up 70-51 with 4:11 to play, and Cal State came no closer then 12 points until the final seconds.
Both teams shot over 46% in the first half from the floor, but UNLV was cold to start the game, missing its first seven shots from the field while the Titans were building up a 6-0 lead five minutes into the game. The lead grew to as high as 10, 16-6, off a Richardson trey at the 12:43 mark. With CSUF leading by eight with 8:23 left in the half, a 9-1 run by UNLV tied the score at 22-22. The game was tied again at 24-24, before the Titans scored six straight, part of a 10-4 run to end the half.
Hampton paced the Lady Rebels with her fourth double-double of the season with game-highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds. Erica Helms added 15 points, while India Chaney posted 10 off the bench. As a team, UNLV shot a season-high 55.8% (29-of-52) from the floor, and made 14-of-20 at the line for 70%. The Lady Rebels also held a 40-38 edge on the boards, and came up with nine steals and five blocks.
The Titans were led by Toni Thomas's 14 points. Jasmine Scott posted 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Ashley Richie finished with 13 points. CSU Fullerton shot 36.8% from the floor (36.8%), including 29.5% (13-of-44) in the second half. The Titans were cold from long-range, making just four-of-20.
UNLV returns to action on Tuesday with its first road game of the season, as it will face Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, at 5 pm (PST).
