Late call frustrates Lady Rebels in OT loss

Kelli Thompson thought she knocked the basketball off the leg of San Diego State's Chelsea Hopkins and so did the official on the spot, who awarded possession to UNLV.

But not the official farther away.

Instead of receiving one more chance to at least extend Saturday's game, the overturned call all but ended the Lady Rebels' hopes, and San Diego State left Cox Pavilion with a 66-62 overtime win.

Thompson was still stewing about 15 minutes after the game.

"We were playing against seven, eight in that game," she said, referring to the officials. "In times like that, we've got to stay together and never mind the refs and never mind the other team."

UNLV (13-5, 1-1 Mountain West Conference) is off to its best start in eight years but still can't find a way to beat San Diego State (12-4, 2-0), which has won 11 of the past 12 meetings.

Courtney Clements led the Aztecs, who extended their winning streak to eight games, with 20 points and eight rebounds. Four players scored in double figures for UNLV, with Mia Bell finishing with 16 points and Lenita Sanford with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Sandrine Nzeukou, who had 10 points and eight rebounds, banked in a 3-footer with 11.9 seconds left in overtime to bring UNLV to within 64-62 when Thompson appeared to force a turnover. Instead of a final shot by UNLV, San Diego State got the ball back as the boisterous crowd of 1,001 booed.

"I thought we won the game when I got that steal," Thompson said.

Hopkins then was quickly fouled, and she made both free throws with 10.3 seconds remaining.

The Aztecs nearly won in regulation, leading 54-50 until Bell made two free throws with 22.5 seconds left and then hit a driving layup with 5.9 seconds to play, sending the game into overtime.

Bell made game-winning shots against Fresno State and UC Santa Barbara this season and the key basket against Kansas State.

"I have a lot of confidence when I have the ball in my hands," she said. "I think my team has a lot of confidence in me. That helps because I can take those shots."

Sanford made two free throws 13 seconds into overtime to give the Lady Rebels their first lead since the final minute of the first half.

But San Diego State quickly regained the lead, scoring 12 points in overtime after being held to 25 in the second half.

"I felt like we could've gone harder, and we didn't go as hard as we normally go," UNLV coach Kathy Olivier said. "I think we had a good crowd, and one thing we can do is go hard. We have total control of how hard we go. It was a long game. I think I need to play more people so we can be fresher.

"I've got to have confidence in everyone on the team and play more people."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.