March 13, 2009
Box Score | Quotes
LAS VEGAS, Nevada - UNLV cut an 16-point deficit with eight minutes left to just two, but San Diego State would score eight of the game's final 10 points to claim a 71-63 victory on Friday afternoon in the semifinals of the 2009 Mountain West Conference Tournament in the Thomas & Mack Center. The Lady Rebels would see their season end with a 14-18 record, while SDSU improved to 23-6 and advanced to Saturday's championship game against Utah.
Defensive pressure from the Aztecs forced UNLV into 13 first half turnovers, while UNLV shot just 33.3% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. That allowed SDSU to open up a 32-20 halftime edge.
The lead grew to as large as 18 twice in the second half for SDSU, but UNLV's Shamela Hampton kept her team in the game as she was nearly unstoppable in the post, with a game-high 29 points. The Aztecs held a 62-46 lead with 7:59 on the clock, following a Quenese Davis layup. The Lady Rebels then made their move, as India Chaney scored nine points during the next five minutes, helping UNLV go on a 15-1 run. Chaney hit two free throws with 3:48 left for a 63-59 score, and then stole the ball and scored on a layup to cut the edge to just two, 63-61 with 3:19 to play. However, SDSU quickly inbounded the ball and raced down the court to score a quick layup and push the edge back to four of a Jene Morris jumper.
Morris added another basket with two minutes to play for a six-point lead. Hampton would answer with a layup, and after grabbing a missed SDSU shot on the other end, UNLV had a chance to close within two, but Erica Helms' layup was off the mark while she was unable to draw contact for a foul. That gave the ball back to the Aztecs with 50 seconds left, and SDSU made four of six at the line in the final 36 seconds for the victory.
Hampton added 11 rebounds to her 29 points for her 14th double-double of the year. Chaney finished with 13 points, while Jamie Smith posted nine points and 10 rebounds. UNLV was held to 37.3% (22-of-59) for the game, 3-of-11 (27.3%) from three-point range, and made 16-of-19 at the line for 84.2%.
The Aztecs were paced by Morris' 27 points. Jennifer Layton Bailes added 14 points, while Paris Johnson posted 12 points and nine rebounds. SDSU shot 49.1% (27-of-55) for the game, was 2-of-13 (15.4%) from downtown, and made 15-of-12 at the line for 71.4%.
