Nov. 26, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV held Northeastern scoreless for the final 3:19 of the contest to hold on for a 61-58 victory in the first game of the Lady Rebel Round-Up in women's college basketball action at the Cox Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Lady Rebels are 6-0 for the first time since the 1990-91 season, while Northeastern dropped to 0-5. UNLV will now play the winner of the other first round game between No. 10 Georgia and No. 21 Georgetown on Sunday at 3:30 pm in the championship game. Northeastern will face the loser in the consolation game at 1 pm.
After falling behind to start the game, UNLV looked to have taken control with an 18-2 run over the end of the first half and the first minute of the second half. Lenita Sanford's layup at 19:12 gave UNLV a 34-23 edge, and the lead hovered between seven to 13 points for the next 12 minutes of the game. UNLV's last double-digit advantage was 53-42, on an offensive rebound and putback by Alana Cesarz at the 6:53 mark.
Northeastern then reeled off 10 straight points, helped by back-to-back treys from Christine Huber and Dani Iervolino. Another jumper by Huber closed the edge to 53-52 with 3:33 to play in the game. Both teams then scored on their next two possessions, with Northeastern getting a three-point play and a three-pointer to tie the game at 58-58 with 3:19 to play. That would be the final points of the afternoon for the Huskies, as UNLV forced them into three turnovers and only one field goal attempt. A tip-in by Markiell Styles off a missed three-pointer put the Lady Rebs back up 60-58 with 2:48 to play, and UNLV survived missing four of five free throw attempts to come out with the win.
The game was tight for the first seven minutes. With the score tied at 14-14, Northeastern used a 7-2 run to open up its largest lead of the game, 21-16, on a free throw from Sierra Mendenhall with 8:23 to play in the first half. The Lady Rebels responded with 12 unanswered points, helped by six points from Sandrine Nzeukou to go up 28-21. After Jamie Conroy broke the drought for the Huskies, Jamie Smith hit on two free throws to close out the half and give UNLV a 30-23 lead at the break.
Styles led UNLV with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Kelli Thompson added 12 points. Smith grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with eight points and two blocks. As a team, UNLV shot 35.6% (21-of-59), was 5-of-23 from three-point range (21.7%), and 14-of-22 for 63.6% at the free throw line. UNLV held a 43-38 edge on the boards, and forced 15 turnovers while coming up with 10 steals.
Jewel Tunstull paced the Huskies with 15 points seven rebounds. Conroy added 11 points and five assists, while Huber posted 13, all off the bench. The Huskies shot 39% (23-of-59) for the game, was 8-of-28 (28.6) from the three-point line, with all eight coming in the second half, and 4-of-8 at the free throw line.
