ORANGEBURG, South Carolina (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV's struggles on offense in the third quarter arose again Saturday afternoon as the Lady Rebels dropped a second straight road game, 58-49 at South Carolina State at the SHM Memorial Center. The Lady Rebels held a four-point halftime lead, but the Bulldogs second half zone shut down the visitor's offense, while they would make 18 total free throws over the final two quarters to pull off the win.
It was a tight contest in the first quarter, before UNLV reeled off a 9-0 run for a 20-13 advantage with 7:54 to play in the opening half. It was still a 7-point edge with just over two minutes to play before the Bulldogs scored four of the last five points to close within 23-19 at the break. The game was tied twice in the third quarter before again SCSU ended with a run, this time a 7-2 spurt for a 37-32 advantage with 10 minutes left to play.
THE TURNING POINT: UNLV scored on a steal and layup from Bailey Thomas and a three-pointer from Justice Ethridge to knot the game at 37-37 with just under eight minutes left. However, just as quickly as momentum had gone the Lady Rebels way, it quickly switched hands when a technical foul was called on the UNLV bench. SCSU sank the ensuing two free throws, and then scored on a short jumper on the same possession to open a 41-37 lead. The Bulldogs added a trey for a seven-point edge, and UNLV came no closer then six the rest of the way.
STAT OF THE GAME: South Carolina State was 18-of-30 at the free throw line in the second half, while UNLV was awarded just three free throws, and made only one of them.
LADY REBEL NOTES
* UNLV has been held under 50 points in two straight games.
* Leading the Lady Rebels was Latecia Smith with 13 points off the bench while Rodjanae Wade added a career-high 12.
* UNLV shot 42% (21-of-50) from the floor, but was just 1-of-11 from three-point range (9.1%), while SCSU hit 4-of-11 from behind the arc for 36.4%.
NEXT TIME OUT: UNLV returns to action with a third straight road game when it faces Portland State in Portland, Oregon in a Saturday, December 15 contest that will tip off at 2 pm.
