UNLV women unable to capitalize

UNLV set rebounding records, grabbing 19 more than Wyoming, and watched the Cowgirls clang one free throw after another.

But the Lady Rebels couldn't overcome their own poor shooting, and it ended their season Tuesday night.

UNLV shot 29.9 percent from the floor in a 60-55 loss to Wyoming in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament in what seemed like a road game before the pro-Cowgirls crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center.

No. 6 seed Wyoming (19-10) will play No. 3 San Diego State (18-10) in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. today.

The No. 7 Lady Rebels (13-18) could have been the team moving on, smashing the tournament record with 53 rebounds, seven more than the mark set by New Mexico in 2005. Forward Jamie Smith's 18 rebounds also broke former UNLV star Linda Frohlich's tourney record of 17 set in 2002.

"I look at the stats, and I kick myself," coach Kathy Olivier said. "We beat them in every category, except for the 3s, and that really hurt us."

Wyoming made 8 of 23 3-pointers to UNLV's 2 of 15, but it was the timing of the baskets that particularly hurt the Lady Rebels.

Cowgirls forward Jade Kennedy made a 3-pointer with 6:34 left to repel a UNLV surge. Then after the Lady Rebels tied the score three times, Kennedy nailed another 3 for a 54-51 lead with 1:53 left. Her 15-footer made it 56-53 with 1:05 left.

Kennedy finished with 10 points, taking over after guard Aubrey Vandiver sparked Wyoming early. Vandiver scored 24 points.

"Aubrey really carried this team for about 34 minutes," Wyoming coach Joe Legerski said. "During one timeout, I (said) that other people needed to step up because we were standing around watching Aubrey trying to do everything."

UNLV was left with plenty of what-ifs.

Notably, what if the Lady Rebels had managed to grab a lead late in the game? Would momentum have permanently turned their way?

"I think if we had gotten that lead a little later on in the second half, it would have kind of continued," Smith said.

Smith and center Markiell Styles, who had 13 points and 13 rebounds, also bemoaned not getting some officials' calls. Wyoming's 12 blocked shots set a tournament record, and many were on UNLV put-backs that could have been called fouls.

But those points would be irrelevant had the Lady Rebels shot better on 3-pointers. UNLV compiled a 53-34 rebound advantage and Wyoming made only 10 of 21 free throws, so the Lady Rebels can't claim they didn't have their chances.

"It was a tough loss," Styles said. "But we're going to come back and not let this bring us down."

The Lady Rebels will lose only two seniors off the roster next year. Until then, this loss is going to sting for a while.

"If we play like we did today, we're going to beat a lot of teams in the country," Olivier said. "This team has a great future."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.