Nov. 16, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Senior forward Lenita Sanford posted career-highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds as UNLV rolled over UC Riverside 64-36 in women's college basketball on Wednesday night at the Cox Pavilion. The 36 points was the fewest allowed by the Lady Rebels in 10 years, who improved to 3-0 for the third time in the last four years. Just as impressive is that the three wins all came over teams that played in the postseason in 2011. UC Riverside dropped to 0-3, all three losses on the road.
It was only a five-point game at halftime, but UNLV was overwhelming on defense in the second half, holding the Highlanders to just six total points over the first 14 minutes of the second half. The Lady Rebels scored 33 during that stretch, to turn a 27-22 lead into a 60-28 edge with 3:54 to play. Sanford was the star of the second half for UNLV, scoring the Lady Rebels' first eight points of the half on the way to her first career double-double. All 11 players on the active roster saw at least six minutes of action in the game, and UNLV grabbed its largest lead of the game, 64-31, on a layup by Alana Cesarz with 56 seconds to play, before UCR scored the final five points.
The 36 points was the lowest by a UNLV opponent since an 83-28 win over Central Connecticut State on Dec. 2, 2001. In the second half, UNLV held UCR to just 14 points, to only five made baskets (5-of-23 for 21.7%), and forced 15 turnovers while coming up with eight steals over the 20 minutes.
The first half saw UNLV start out hot, taking a 12-2 lead less then four minutes into the contest off points from four different players, with Mia Bell's layup capping the run. UCR answered back however with a 10-0 run of its own, tying the score at 12-12 with 10:09 to play. The lead was 17-15 in favor of the Lady Rebels when they reeled off eight unanswered points for a 25-15 edge with 3:20 to play. The Highlanders made one more run, and its last of the game as it turned out, finishing the first half on a 7-2 spurt to make it a 27-22 game at halftime.
Sanford was joined in double figures by Kelli Thompson with 12 points, while Alana Cesarz added eight and Jamie Smith had six points and nine rebounds. UNLV shot 41.5% (22-of-53) from the floor and was 19-of-29 from the floor for 65.5. The Lady Rebels held a 41-33 edge on the boards, and forced 23 total turnovers, leading to a 32-11 edge on points off turnovers.
UCR was paced by Natasha Hadley and Tre'Shonte Nottingham, both of whom finished with eight points each. The Highlanders shot 30% (15-of-50) for the game, was 3-of-9 from three-point range for 33.3%, and made 3-of-8 at the line for 37.5%.
UNLV continues its five-game homestand with a Saturday, Nov. 19 contest against San Jose State at 3 pm in the Cox Pavilion. Saturday is also Rebel Reunion for UNLV, with over 20 former players expected to attend the game, including former All-American Linda Frõhlich.
