Dec. 21, 2009
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - DePaul used an 18-0 run over the end of the first half and start of the second half to pull away from UNLV on the way to claiming an 82-48 victory in the championship game of the Duel In The Desert tournament on Monday night in the Cox Pavilion. The win improved the Blue Demons to 9-3 overall, while UNLV's two-game home win streak was snapped at two as the Lady Rebels dropped to 6-6.
It was a close contest for the opening 17 minutes, with DePaul staking out to a 12-5 lead just four minutes into the game. Three-pointers from Kelli Thompson and Amanda Anderson started off a 12-2 run for the Lady Rebels, with another Anderson trey giving UNLV its first lead, 15-14 at the 12:53 mark. India Chaney added a layup at 12:24 to give UNLV what would be its largest lead of the game at 17-14.
DePaul then reeled off five straight points before UNLV tied the game at 19-19. The lead was 28-24 in favor of DePaul when tournament MVP Sam Quigley nailed a jumper with 2:42 that was the beginning of nine straight points from DePaul to end the half, putting the Blue Demons up 37-24 entering halftime. The visitors then came out of the second half with four straight baskets, including a three-pointer from Anna Martin to give DePaul a 46-24 lead at the 16:43 mark.
UNLV closed to within 19 three times, the last on Allison Holiday's trey with 9:42 to play. DePaul answered back with a 20-0 run for its largest lead of the game, 75-36 with 3:57 to play.
Erica Helms led UNLV with 16 points, while Anderson added nine off the bench. UNLV was held to 27.6% shooting (16-of-58), was 9-of-29 from three-point range (31%), and made 7-of-14 at the line for 50%. UNLV was outrebounded by a 49-32 margin.
DePaul placed five in double-figures, with Martin posting a game-high 18 and Quigley adding 17 points. Katherine Harry finished with 12 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. The Blue Demons shot 51.5% (35-of-68) for the game, and turned the ball over just 12 times.
Named to the all-tournament was Martin from DePaul, Thompson from UNLV, Alexa Deluzio from Florida State, Brittany Chambers from Kansas State and Whitney York from UTSA.
UNLV will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 29, when it hosts Northern Arizona at 7 pm in the Cox Pavilion.
