Jan. 28, 2012
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Junior guard and Las Vegas native Mia Bell converted three straight layups during a 10-2 late second half run to help UNLV close out on its fourth straight win, 63-47 over Air Force on Saturday afternoon in Mountain West women's basketball action at Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels improved to 17-5, and have won seven of their past eight games. The Falcons dropped to 5-16, 0-6 in league play. UNLV improved to 16-0 all-time against Air Force in Las Vegas, and it was the 15th win by double digits.
Though the Lady Rebels led the entire way, they could never completely shake Air Force until the final five minutes. UNLV opened the game with a 9-2 edge less then five minutes in, and were up 14-7 on a three-pointer from Kelli Thompson at the 11:43 mark. Air Force cut the margin down to two twice in the half, at 16-14 and 20-18. A layup from Megan O'Neil brought Air Force within 23-22 with 1:53 to play in the first half. UNLV then closed out the half with an 8-0 run, sparked by freshman Danielle Miller, who had two steal and layup plays in a 13-second span. Her second layup, with 22 seconds to play, made it a 31-22 score, and it remained that way going into halftime.
UNLV opened the second half with treys from Bell and Jamie Smith to go up 37-24 with 17:50 to play. The Lady Rebels then lost their touch on offense, missing their next 12 shots over a 9:56 span. UNLV would manage only three free throws during that drought, which allowed Air Force to come within five points, 40-35 on a pair of Dymond James free throws with 8:13 to play.
A layup from Markiell Styles nine seconds later broke the field goal drought for the Lady Rebels, and that ignited a 12-2 run that put the game away. Bell scored her three straight layups at the end of the run, which was capped by a jumper from Alana Cesarz for a 52-37 UNLV lead with 4:52 to play. The edge grew to as high as 18, 61-43, before the Lady Rebels ended with the 16-point victory.
Bell and Thompson finished with 11 points each to pace the Lady Rebs, while Smith posted 10 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the year, and 33rd of her career. Cesarz also finished in double-figures with 10. UNLV shot 43.1% (25-of-58) from the floor, 50% (5-of-10) from behind the arc, and 53.3% (8-of-15) from the free throw line. UNLV held a 43-33 rebounding edge, and finished with 15 steals, leading to a 27-14 edge on points off turnovers.
For the Falcons, James posted 14 points to lead the team, and O'Neil recorded 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Air Force was held to 32.7% (16-of-49) from the floor, made 1-of-5 from three-point range (20%), and shot 14-of-23 for 60.9% at the charity stripe.
UNLV closes out the first half of the MW schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 1, with a 6 pm (PT) contest at Colorado State in Fort Collins.
