Jan. 6, 2010
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - BYU used a full-court press to force 17 turnovers on the night and held off a second-half UNLV rally to claim a 71-61 victory over the Lady Rebels in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams on Wednesday night from the Cox Pavilion. The loss sent UNLV to 7-8 on the season, while BYU improved to 10-3.
The key in the game was UNLV turnovers against the press under its own goal, leading to several baskets for the Cougars to help them build a 14-point first half lead. UNLV actually scored the first five points of the game, all from Erica Helms, but BYU countered with a 23-4 run over a 6:25 span. Jazmine Foreman scored 11 points during the Cougar run, and an Alexis Kaufusi layup with 11:36 to play in the half made the score 23-9. The lead was still at 14 with four minutes to play, before UNLV ended the half scoring four straight to enter halftime down 32-22.
BYU's advantage stood at 11, 36-25 at the 17:35 mark of the second half before the Lady Rebels made their second-half run. It started with four unanswered points from Jamie Smith, and also featured five straight points from Markiell Styles. Helms capped the run by hitting a trey and adding two free throws on the next possession to complete a 14-5 run, bringing UNLV within 41-39 with 13:38 to play.
UNLV still trailed by two, 46-44 with 11:33 to play on a Kelli Thompson trey. BYU then took control with a 7-0 run, as Mindy Bonham sank two free throws, Coriann Wood made a short jumper in the paint, and Haley Hall drained a three-pointer for a 53-44 advantage with 9:59 to play. The closest UNLV would come over the final 10 minutes was seven points twice, the last at 59-52 on a jumper from Mia Bell at the 5:22 mark.
Helms paced UNLV with 18 points and added five assists with no turnovers. Smith and Styles both added 10 points as well. UNLV shot 41.5% (22-of-53) for the game, was 5-of-18 from three-point range for 27.8%, and made 12-of-17 at the free throw line for 70.6%. The Lady Rebs were outrebounded by a 40-36 margin.
Foreman scored a game-high 19 to lead the Cougars. Wood was also in double-figures with 17, and was followed by Bonham with 11 and Kaufusi with 10. The Cougars also shot 41.5% (27-of-65) from the floor, were 8-of-26 for 30.8% from three-point range, and made 9-of-12 at the free throw line for 75%. BYU owned a 19-8 edge on points off turnovers, and also had a 27-13 advantage on bench points.
UNLV returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 9 with a home contest against New Mexico at 3 pm in the Cox Pavilion.
