Feb. 26, 2011

Box Score

LARAMIE, Wyo. (UNLVRebels.com) - Wyoming hit 10 three-pointers and used a big first half run to post a 77-56 victory over UNLV in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Arena Auditorium. The loss dropped UNLV to 10-19, 3-12 in league play, while Wyoming improved to 21-6, 11-3 in the league.

The Cowgirls started out with a 7-0 lead in the first five minutes. Back-to-back baskets from Ta'Nitra Byrd sparked a Lady Rebel run though, as they scored nine of the game's next 11 points. A pair of Byrd free throws at the 11:14 mark tied the game at 9-9. Ashley Sickles answered on the other end with a three-pointer, and Wyoming would hold a lead for the rest of the game, though it was a close contest for the next three minutes. After Byrd converted a layup to bring UNLV within 17-15, Wyoming went on a 17-4 run over the next 7:36 of the game. The Cowgirls did their damage from outside, as three straight three-pointers keyed the run. The lead went to as high as 15 in the final minute, before Jamie Smith scored on an offensive rebound at the halftime buzzer to make it a 34-21 game.

UNLV cut the lead down to 11 four minutes into the second half on a layup from Smith. Wyoming countered with seven unanswered points, with a layup from Chaundra Sewell extending the lead back to 51-33. The Lady Rebels came no closer then 16 the rest of the way, while Wyoming's largest advantage was 24, 73-49 at the 5:40 mark.

Byrd paced the Lady Rebels with a career-high 16 points, while Kelli Thompson added 15. Thompson also had UNLV's only three-pointer, as the Lady Rebels made a season-low 1-of-13 for 7.7%. As a team, UNLV shot 37.9% (22-of-58), and was 11-of-18 at the line for 61.1%. UNLV was outrebounded 38-30, and outscored 14-6 on points off turnovers.

Sewell led the Cowgirls with 17 points and added seven assists. Aubrey Vandiver posted 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Hillary Carlson added 15. Wyoming shot 45.1% (23-of-51) from the floor, made 10-of-26 from three-point range for 38.5%, and 21-of-24 at the line for 87.5%.

UNLV will return to action a week today with its Senior Day contest, a March 5, 3 pm game against Utah in the Cox Pavilion.