Dec. 20, 2010
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV led almost the entire second half, but SMU rallied in the final minutes, scoring nine of the game's final 11 points, including Samantha Mahnesmith's game-winning jumper with five seconds on the clock to give the Mustangs a 56-55 victory over the Lady Rebels in the final game of the BTI Classic on Monday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in women's college basketball action. The loss, the fourth straight for UNLV, dropped its record to 5-6, while SMU improved to 6-5 for the year. Texas won the day's first game, 83-65 over South Florida.
The game was tied at 24-24 in the final 90 seconds of the first half before the Lady Rebels reeled off nine straight points in a 52-second span. Four different Lady Rebels scored during that run, capped by a Jamie Smith layup to make the score 33-24 with 35 seconds to go. However, Mahnesmith would end the half with a three-pointer from the corner to bring SMU within 33-27 going into halftime.
SMU used an early 7-0 run in the second half to cut the edge to 35-33 on a trey from Alisha Filmore at the 18:11 mark. Mia Bell answered back for UNLV with back-to-back treys to extend the lead to eight points. UNLV's largest lead was at nine, 44-35 with 12:08 to play. Following a layup from Christine Elliott that brought the Mustangs within 44-41, Smith nailed a trey for UNLV to push the edge back to 47-41, at the 7:56 mark. However, that would be the final field goal of the game for the Lady Rebels, who would miss their final six shots.
The lead was still at six points though for UNLV inside of three minutes to go. A pair of free throws cut the advantage two four, and then Mahnesmith knocked in her third trey of the game at 1:22 to bring SMU within one. The teams then traded a pair of free throws. UNLV had the ball in the final 40 seconds, but would miss on a three-point attempt, with SMU coming up with the rebound. A layup attempt by the Mustangs was blocked, and the ball came out to Elliott on the rebound, and she fed Mahnesmith for a 14-foot jumper with 5.6 seconds on the clock. UNLV could not get a shot off, giving SMU the come-from-behind victory.
Smith led UNLV with 13 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Bell was next with 10 points. UNLV shot 37.5% (18-of-48) for the game, was 6-of-13 (46.2%) from three-point range, and 13-of-19 (68.4%) at the line. The Lady Rebels held a 40-33 edge on the boards, but turned the ball over 23 times, leading to a 23-14 edge on points off turnovers for the Mustangs.
SMU was paced by Mahnesmith's 11 points, while Akil Simpson added 10. Elliott finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. SMU finished the night making 20-of-59 for 33.9% from the floor, but was just 4-of-17 from three-point range (23.5%). The Mustangs did connect on 12-of-14 at the free throw line for 85.7%.
UNLV breaks for Christmas, before taking off for Hawaii to play in the Pepsi Rainbow Wahine Invitational on Dec. 28-30 in Honolulu. The Lady Rebels will open up play in the three-day event by facing Cal State Bakersfield at 7 pm (PST).
