Feb. 23, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - New Mexico held UNLV to four points during a 10-minute span in the second half on the way to a 68-60 victory over the Lady Rebels in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. The loss dropped UNLV to 10-18, 3-11 in league play, while the Lobos improved to 10-15, and 4-9 in the league.
UNLV held a four-point halftime lead, and went up 41-38 at the 15:47 mark on a layup from Kelli Thompson. The Lady Rebels would not make a field goal for the next 5:46 of the game though, missing five straight while turning the ball over six times. After New Mexico tied the game at 41-41, Ta'Nitra Byrd made one-of-two at the line to put UNLV back ahead by one with 13:10 left. Amanda Best answered for the Lobos with a three-pointer for a two-point advantage, 44-42 at the 12:28 mark, and UNM held onto the lead for the rest of the game. UNLV stayed within range for the next few minutes, as a Jamie Smith layup at 9:01 made the score 46-44, and a free throw from Markiell Styles brought UNLV within 48-45 at the 7:25 mark.
New Mexico then reeled off a 7-0 run to take a 10point edge. Jasmine Patterson started the run with a layup, Best added a three-pointer, and Porche Torrance capped the run with a layup at 5:56 for a 55-45 Lobo advantage. UNLV would slowly chip into the lead, closing to within six with 5:23 to play. After the edge went back up to 10 points, UNLV scored six straight in the final 90 seconds to make it a four-point game, 61-57 with 52 seconds to play. New Mexico hit five of six at the line over the rest of the game to close out the win.
With the Lobos holding a 6-4 edge early in the contest, India Chaney sparked a 9-0 run, while Erica Helms' three-pointer put UNLV up 13-6 at the 13:03 mark. The lead increased to as much as eight twice in the first half for the Lady Rebels, the second time on another Helms' trey to put UNLV ahead 22-14 with 6:20 to play. A 10-2 Lobo run tied the score at 24-24, but Thompson would knock down two three-pointers in the final three minutes to give UNLV a 30-26 halftime edge.
Thompson finished with 17 points for UNLV, while Chaney and Helms both posted 11 each. Sandrine Nzeukou and Smith each finished with 10 rebounds as well. UNLV was held to 28.6% shooting (18-of-63), made 6-of-23 from three-point range for 26.1%, including a 1-of-15 performance in the second half, and made 18-of-26 at the free throw line for 69.2%. UNLV held a 45-42 edge on the boards, and were outscored 14-7 on points off turnovers.
Patterson paced New Mexico with a game-high 24 points. Best added 22 and Torrance 10 and nine rebounds. UNM shot 39% (23-of-59), was 5-of-26 from three-point range (19.2%), and hit 17-of-20 at the free throw line for 85%.
UNLV plays its final road game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 26, with a 1 pm (PST) contest in Laramie against the Wyoming Cowgirls.
