Nov. 8, 2010
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV overcame 11 three-pointers from Grand Canyon while sophomore Kelli Thompson scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Lady Rebels to a 68-61 exhibition victory on Monday night in women's collegiate basketball action from the Cox Pavilion.
Grand Canyon led by as much as 10 points in the first half thanks to an 8-of-11 performance from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes. UNLV turned to its inside game in the second half, with three starters posting double-figures in rebounds while the Lady Rebels would finish the game with a 34-16 edge in points in the paint.
UNLV started out with a 6-2 lead four minutes into the game, but four straight treys from the visiting Antelopes, three of them from Jazmyn Foster, put GCU up 14-8 at the 13:54 mark. The lead would slowly increase to as high as 10 on another Foster trey with 7:14 left in the first half, making the score 27-17. UNLV closed to within three in the final 10 seconds on a three-pointer from India Chaney, but GCU would convert a layup at the buzzer to take a 38-33 lead into halftime.
In the second half, UNLV clamped down on the GCU outside shooters, holding them to 3-of-12 from behind the arc. An 8-0 run by the Lady Rebels over the first four minutes of the second half put them back ahead by a 41-38 margin. After increasing its lead to five, the Lady Rebels saw GCU reel off six straight, on a three-point play and a three-pointer, to take a 46-45 edge. The lead would switch back and forth five times over the next six minutes. With the Antelopes holding a 55-51 advantage with 8:45 to play, Thompson and Styles combined for the next six points of the game. A Jamie Smith layup gave UNLV a 59-55 edge, and the Lady Rebels would not trail again. GCU closed to within one at 59-58, and at two, 63-61 with 1:25 to play. The Lady Rebels closed out the win by scoring the final five points for the 68-61 victory.
Thompson finished 8-of-16 from the floor for 24 points. Smith posted seven points, eight rebounds, and 10 rebounds, while the rest of the UNLV starting front court, Lenita Sanford and Sandrine Nzeukou, grabbed 13 and 11 rebounds, respectively. UNLV shot 37.3% for the game and held a 60-39 edge on the boards, but struggled at the line, making just 14-of-27 for 51.9%.
Foster finished 7-of-12 from three-point range for 21 points for GCU, while Maylinn Smith was also in double-figures with 13. The Antelopes shot 32.3% (21-of-65) from the floor, and made 11-of-23 from downtown for 47.8%.
UNLV will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 12 at 5 pm against Southern Utah in the Thomas & Mack Center, part of a doubleheader with the UNLV men's team.
