Nov. 12, 2011
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV used an impressive defensive performance and a 21-point, 15-rebound game from senior forward Sandrine Nzeukou for a 62-39 victory over Butler in the women's college basketball season opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon in the first game of the Iowa Hawkeye Challenge at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Thanks to its largest win margin since December of 2010, the Lady Rebels advanced to the championship game of the tournament, to face Iowa at 12:30 pm (PT).
The game was close for the first eight minutes, as after Butler opened with a Haley Howard trey, UNLV scored six straight for a 6-3 edge. The Lady Rebels were up 11-8 when they took control with a 13-0 burst over a 6:33 span. The Bulldogs' scoring drought was caused by the tight defense of UNLV, as they were held to just 20.7% (6-of-29) shooting in the first half. UNLV also held a commanding 27-13 edge on the boards over the first stanza.
Four different Lady Rebels scored during the 13-0 run, capped by a jumper from Mia Bell for a 24-8 edge at the 5:51 mark. UNLV would lead by as much as 20, 30-10, at the 2:02 mark off a jumper from Alana Cesarz, and took a 33-16 edge into halftime.
The second half saw Butler slowly chip away at the lead, closing to within 10 twice, the second time on a layup from Terra Burns at the 7:15 mark. That would be the final points for the Bulldogs for the next six minutes, as UNLV put the game away with 17 unanswered points.
UNLV's 23-point win margin was its largest since a 47-point win over Columbia on Dec., 29, 2011, and it came over a team that won 20 games a year ago while earning a berth in the Postseason WNIT. Nzeukou led all scorers with her ninth career double-double. She was one of three players in double-figures, with Kelli Thompson posting 16 points and Mia Bell 10. Lenita Sanford added nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks, while Jamie Smith grabbed nine rebounds. As a team, UNLV shot 37.0% (20-of-54) from the floor, and 4-of-18 from three-point range for 22.2%, but did make 75% of its shots at the line, 18-of-24. UNLV held a 50-33 edge on the boards, and a 15-6 advantage on points off turnovers.
Mandy McDivitt was the only Bulldog in double-figures with 11, thanks to hitting three-of-six from three-point range. Burns was next with eight points. Butler was held to 28.3% (17-of-60) for the afternoon, 5-of-17 from three-point range (29.4%), and only attempted two free throws, missing both.
