Dec. 20, 2008
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - No. 22 Oklahoma State (7-2) broke open a tied game with a 12-0 run early in the second half and UNLV (5-5) came no closer then 10 points on the way to a 88-73 loss to the OSU Cowgirls in the championship game of the Desert Draw at UNLV on Saturday afternoon from the Cox Pavilion. In the day's first game, Southern Miss rallied in the final two minutes to claim a 73-68 win in the consolation game over Cal State Northridge.
UNLV would hold the lead for the first 18 minutes of the game, scoring the first five points and going up 12-5 on a free throw from Shamela Hampton. Leading by one, UNLV reeled off a 14-5 run and took its largest lead of the game, 33-23, with 6:49 to play off a jumper from Jamie Smith.
The momentum turned when Hampton picked up her second foul with 5:55 to play and went to the bench. The Cowgirls took advantage of her absence to score five straight, and would outscore UNLV 18-8 over the final six minutes to go into halftime with a 47-46 edge.
The score was tied twice in the second half, the last on a Smith trey with 15:55 on the clock. Oklahoma State answered back with back-to-back treys to start its 12-0 run. Megan Byford capped the run with a layup at 12:55 to give the Cowgirls a 64-52 lead. UNLV did close to within 11 with just under nine minutes to play, but could not come any closer, as the Lady Rebels were held to just 32.3% shooting in the second half after making 47.4% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
Smith scored a game and career-high 27 points to lead the Lady Rebels, and added 11 rebounds for her second-straight double-double. India Chaney was next with 14 points, while Erica Helms added 11 points and Brittany Halberg 10. Hampton finished with five points and 12 rebounds before fouling out. UNLV shot 40.6% (28-of-69) for the game, was 10-of-30 (33.3%) from three-point range, and made 7-of-11 (63.6%) at the line. The Lady Rebels did hold a 42-39 edge on the boards.
Tournament MVP Andrea Riley scored 22 points and added 10 assists for the Cowgirls. She was one of five players in double figures, as Taylor Hardeman finished with 16 points, Shyvon Spears had 13, Kristin Hernandez 12, and Shaunte' Smith 11. OSU shot 51.7% (31-of-60) for the game, was 7-of-16 (43.8) from three-point range, and made 19-of-31 at the line for 61.3%.
UNLV now breaks for Christmas before returning to action on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2 pm against UC Riverside in the Cox Pavilion.
