Jan. 2, 2009

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - Fresno State held UNLV to just five field goals in the first half to open up a 37-15 halftime lead on the way to a 65-42 victory over the Lady Rebels in women's collegiate basketball action on Friday night from the Cox Pavilion. The loss dropped UNLV to 7-6 on the season, while FSU improved its mark to 8-4.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 15-5 lead, but seven unanswered points from UNLV cut the game to 15-12, thanks to a jumper from India Chaney with 9:11 left to play in half. The Lady Rebels would not make another field goal the rest of the half, and Fresno State reeled off 13 consecutive points to open up a 28-12 lead with 4:46 to play off a three-pointer from Jaleesa Ross. FSU ended the half outscoring UNLV 22-3 over the final 9:11, as the Bulldogs made five three-pointers in the half while holding the Lady Rebels to just 5-of-27 (18.5%) shooting.

The lead then remained between 20-24 points for almost the entire second half, except twice in the final 86 seconds when the Bulldogs went up by 25, their largest advantage of the night.

Shamela Hampton finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the year, while Chaney also scored 12 points and Erica Helms added 10. UNLV shot 31.5% (17-of-54) for the game and was just 1-of-12 from three-point range. Fresno State also held a big advantage on the boards, with a 52-35 rebounding margin, which led to a 20-7 edge on second chance points.

Marnique Arnold paced FSU with 12 points. Bailey Amundsen added 11 points and Ross 10 for the Bulldogs, who shot 37.5% (27-of-72). They also took an amazing 38 three-point attempts, which easily set a new Cox Pavilion record for three-pointers by a team (UNLV held the previous record of 34, against Iowa State on Dec. 19, 2004). Fresno State would make nine of their 38 attempts from three-point range.

UNLV will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 7, as it will open Mountain West Conference play at No. 25 New Mexico in Albuquerque in a 6 pm (PST) contest.