Dec. 12, 2009

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - A three-point barrage from Fresno State in the first half helped send UNLV to its first road loss of the season, as the Bulldogs made 10 treys in the first half and 14 in the game on the way to a 63-45 victory in women's collegiate basketball action on Saturday afternoon in the Save Mart Center. The Lady Rebels dropped to 4-5 with the loss, while FSU improved to 7-3 on the season. UNLV had entered the game with a perfect 4-0 mark in away contests.

UNLV held the lead for most of the opening 10 minutes of the game. A three-pointer from Jamie Smith and a three-point play by Kelli Thompson gave the Lady Rebs a 10-6 edge four minutes into the contest. Two treys from FSU tied the game at 12-12, but UNLV would push the edge back to four, going up 16-12 on India Chaney's jumper at the 10:49 mark. Another pair of shots from behind the arc from the Bulldogs tied the game at 18-18. FSU took back the lead on its first two-point basket of the game for a 20-18 edge with 8:15 on the clock in the first half.

Sandrine Nzeukou answered back with a jumper to make it a tie score at 20 apiece at the 5:09 mark. Jalessa Ross nailed a trey just 12 seconds later to spark a 19-3 run over the rest of the half and the opening five minutes of the second stanza. A Ross layup capped the run, making the score 39-23 in favor of the Bulldogs. After Mia Bell nailed a short jumper to bring UNLV within 16, FSU reeled off a 19-6 spurt over an 8:20 span, taking its largest lead of the game at 58-31 with six minutes to play.

Strong defensive pressure from the Bulldogs held UNLV to 31.1% (15-of-48) for the game, including just 6-of-23 in the second half for 26.1%. The Lady Rebs made 3-of-13 from three-point range for 23.1%, and were 12-of-16 at the line for 75%. The Lady Rebs were outrebounded by a 37-32 margin, and committed 20 turnovers to 17 for the Bulldogs. Erica Helms paced UNLV with 15 points, while the next highest scorer was Nzeukou with eight.

For Fresno State, Ross posted a game-high 16 points, and was followed by Joh-Teena Filipe with 14. FSU shot 41.1% (23-of-56) for the game and was 14-of-36 from three-point range for 38.9%.

UNLV will return to action next Saturday, Dec. 19, with it hosts VCU in the first round of the Duel In The Desert Tournament in a 5 pm contest at the Cox Pavilion.