Feb. 13, 2010
Box Score | Highlights | Post-game Interview
LAS VEGAS - After falling behind 23-7 to start the game, UNLV used runs of 19-2 and 16-3 and an outstanding performance from sophomore forward Jamie Smith (14 points, 15 rebounds, eight steals) to claim a 66-59 victory over San Diego State in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon in front of a home crowd of 1,634. The Lady Rebels broke a seven-game losing streak to SDSU and improved to 12-13 overall, and 5-6 in the league with their fourth win in the last five games. The Aztecs dropped to 14-9, 6-5 in the MWC.
The game was all SDSU at the start, as the Aztecs scored the first 10 points of the contest and led 23-7 at the 8:52 mark on a layup from Paris Johnson. The Lady Rebels started to switch up their defense and the Aztecs would struggle against the zone, missing seven of its next eight shots and turning the ball over seven times over the next eight minutes. UNLV took advantage by reeling off a 19-2 run, which featured nine points from Smith after she had been held scoreless for the first 11 minutes. UNLV took its first lead of the game on a pair of Smith free throws with 36 seconds left to complete the run, making the score 26-25. Quenese Davis answered back with a pair of free throws and SDSU took a 27-26 lead into halftime.
The Aztecs slowly stretched their lead out to four points in the second half, and held a 43-39 edge at the 9:55 mark off a jumper by Jene Morris. India Chaney banked in a jumper on the other end, the third straight for the Lady Rebel guard in a 71-second span, and Mia Bell drove in for a layup to tie the score at 43-43 and start a 16-3 run for UNLV. Erica Helms' tip-in at 8:27 gave UNLV the lead for good at 45-43, and a pair of Kelli Thompson free throws capped the run, making the score 56-46 at the 5:07 mark.
With UNLV up by eight in the final minute, the Aztecs made one last rally, a 7-1 run in just 23 seconds to close within 61-59 with 37 seconds left in the second half. The Lady Rebels closed out the win by hitting five of six at the line to end the game and claim their fifth league win of the season.
Smith's double-double was her eighth of the season, while her career-high eight steals tied for the fifth-most ever by a Lady Rebel in a game. Chaney led UNLV with a career-high tying 16 points and six rebounds, and Helms added 12. UNLV won despite shooting 33.3% (20-of-60) from the floor and 1-of-11 from three-point range (9.1%). The Lady Rebs made 41 trips to the free throw line (making 25 for 61%), and held a 49-40 rebounding edge. Also key was UNLV forcing SDSU into 26 turnovers for the afternoon.
Johnson scored a game-high 19 to lead SDSU, and added nine rebounds. Morris was next with 17, while Davis added 10. The Aztecs shot 39% (23-of-59) for the game, were 3-of-20 from three-point range (15%), and made 10-of-16 at the line for 62.5%.
UNLV plays a second straight game at home on Wednesday when it hosts Utah at 7 pm in the Cox Pavilion.
