Jan. 7, 2009

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - New Mexico hit eight first-half three-pointers to open up a 26-point halftime edge on the way to a 75-49 victory over UNLV in the Mountain West Conference women's basketball opener for both teams on Wednesday in the Pit.

The Lady Rebels (7-7, 0-1) scored the first two points of the game, but New Mexico (12-2, 1-0) quickly answered with a trey, one of three in the first 4:37 of the game to give the home team an 11-4 edge. After a Shamela Hampton layup cut the lead to 20-8 with 11:04 to play, the Lobos surged ahead thanks to a 20-4 run over a 6:22 span. Eileen Wissmann's third three-pointer of the half capped the run, making the score 40-12 with 4:29 left in the first half.

Both teams would score 27 points each in the second half, but the closest UNLV could cut the edge to was 22, 56-34, thanks to an 8-0 run which featured three-pointers from Dominique Harris and Allison Holiday. Six straight Lobos points pushed the lead back to 28, and UNM would close out the game for the 26-point win.

Hampton posted her conference-leading eighth double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Harris added 10 points and Jamie Smith recorded six points and eight rebounds. UNLV shot 33.3% (19-of-57) for the game, made 6-of-19 (31.5%) from behind the arc, and was 5-of-10 at the line. UNLV did hold a 47-39 edge on the boards, but would turn the ball over 25 times, to just 11 for the Lobos. That lead to a 22-12 edge on points off turnovers for New Mexico.

Weissmann and Amy Beggin both scored 13 points to lead the Lobos, with Amanda Adamson added 10. UNM shot 40.6% (28-of-69) for the game, and made 9-of-27 from three-point land for 33.3%. The Lobos also made 10-of-15 at the line for 66.7%.

UNLV will return home for its first home league game of the year as it hosts TCU on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 3 pm in the Cox Pavilion.