Jan. 26, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Wyoming senior forward Hillary Carlson scored a career-high 34 points to lead the Cowgirls to a 69-61 victory over UNLV on Wednesday night inMountain West Conference women's basketball action at the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels fell behind by 10 early on, and were forced to play in catch-up mode the rest of the game on the way to suffering their fifth MWC loss of the season (9-12 overall, 2-5 MWC). Wyoming meanwhile moved within a half game of first place at 15-4, 5-1 in league play.
Carlson and Jade Kennedy were the story of the first half, as the two Cowgirls combined for 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting. UNLV led just twice in the game, 1-0 and 4-2 on a three-pointer from Mia Bell. With the score 7-6 in favor of Wyoming, back-to-back treys keyed an 11-2 run. A jumper from Carlson gave Wyoming an 18-8 edge. The edge grew to as high as 14, 40-26, before Sandrine Nzeukou scored the half's final three points for UNLV to bring the Lady Rebels within 40-29 at halftime. Wyoming shot 56.7% (17-of-30) for the half, while UNLV made 11-of-30 for 36.7%.
The second half saw each team make several runs. A jumper and three-pointer to open the second half gave Wyoming its biggest lead, 45-29 at the 17:29 mark. UNLV answered with seven straight points over a 2:15 span. Jamie Smith started the run with a three-pointer, and a tip-in from Tia Morrison made the score 45-38 with 14:45 clock.
Wyoming responded with six straight points, which was then countered with a 7-0 run from UNLV. A jumper from India Chaney brought the Lady Rebs within six, 51-45 with 10:01 to play in the half. The lead was again cut to six at 6:37, 54-48 on an Erica Helms trey. After Wyoming went back up by 10, Helms nailed a jumper and Kelli Thompson connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it a 58-53 game with three minutes to go. Kennedy quickly answered on the other end with another three-pointer, and UNLV could not come closer then six the rest of the way. Nzeukou finished with her fourth double-double in the last five games (11 points, 12 rebounds), while Thompson added 11 points to lead UNLV. Helms posted 10 points off the bench. The Lady Rebels shot 32.4% (23-of-71) for the game, was 5-of-24 (20.8%) from three-point range, and 10-of-15 at the line for 66.7%. UNLV was outrebounded by a 45-41 margin.
Carlson finished the night 12-of-19 for her 34 points, and added 13 rebounds for the Cowgirls. Kennedy posted 18 points, as she was 6-of-11 from the floor, all three-point attempts. Chaundra Sewell added 12 rebounds. The Cowgirls finished the game hitting 44.4% (24-of-54) from the floor, was 8-of-22 for 36.4% from three-point land, and 13-of-22 at the line for 59.1%.
UNLV returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 1, with a road contest in Salt Lake City against Utah at 7 pm (PST), in a game televised live on The Mtn.
