Feb. 9, 2008
Box Score
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Senior forward Sequoia Holmes scored 14 of her team-high 22 points in the final seven minutes to carry UNLV to a 76-68 victory at Colorado State in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action from Moby Arena on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Lady Rebels broke a six-game losing streak to improve to 7-15 overall, 3-6 in league play. CSU dropped to 2-20, 0-0 in the MWC.
UNLV used a 21-6 run over the final 1:20 of the first half and four minutes of the second half to turn an eight-point deficit into a 43-36 lead. The Lady Rebels then held a 50-44 edge with 10:21 to play before back-to-back treys and a layup from the Rams gave them a 52-50 edge with 8:45 to play. After the teams traded baskets to make the score 54-52 in favor of CSU, Holmes took over the game. She answered the Ram lead with a short jumper, then scored off a steal from Brittany Halberg. Holmes stole the ball on the Rams next possession and was fouled, which led to two more points and a 58-54 UNLV lead with 6:52 to play
CSU wouldn't go away, but could never come closer then three points over the final seven minutes. In a key play, UNLV's Shamela Hampton missed a short jumper with the Lady Rebels up four, but Holmes soared up for the offensive rebound, drew the foul on an attempted put-back, and knocked in both free throws for a 68-62 lead with 1:41 on the clock. Sara Hunter made a trey on the other end to bring the Rams within three, but Holmes answered again, this time with a one-handed jumper with the shot clock about to run out to make the score 70-65. CSU then missed four of its next five attempts from three-point range, and UNLV scored six more to earn the eight-point victory.
UNLV started out the game with a 12-6 edge, but an 8-0 run, fueled by two three-pointers, gave the Rams a 19-16 edge with 8:53 to play in the opening half. CSU would hold the lead for the rest of the half, and opened up a 30-22 advantage thanks to two more back-to-back three-pointers, with 1:45 left on the clock. UNLV fought themselves back into the game thanks to two three-pointers in the final 1:20, and a jumper by Halberg at the buzzer to make the score 33-30.
Holmes finished 8-of-15 from the floor for her 22 points and added nine rebounds and two steals. Halberg came off the bench with 13 points and five rebounds, while Dominique Harris added 10 points and four assists, and Hampton contributed nine points and seven rebounds. UNLV shot 50.9% (29-of-57) from the floor, made 6-of-18 (33.3%) from three-point range, and were 12-of-18 at the line. The Lady Rebels held a slight rebounding advantage, 39-38.
CSU was paced by Hunter's game-high 23 points, as she was 7-of-13 from three-point land. Three more were in double figures, as Elle Queen scored 12, Emily Neal added 11, and Lauren Young finished with 10. The Rams were held to 38.1% (24-of-63) from the floor, but made 11 three-pointers (1-of-27) for 40.7%. They struggled at the line, making 9-of-17 for 52.9%.
UNLV will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 13, when it travels to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take on the Air Force Falcons in a 6 pm (PST) contest.
