Lady Rebs trail SDSU at the half
Shamela Hampton scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds, but San Diego State used its distinct advantage in athleticism to grab a 32-30 lead at the break.
After falling behind by double-digits early, the Lady Rebels got back within five points, but the Aztecs finished the half strong.
Jene Morris has 12 points for San Diego State.
UNLV made just 8 of 24 field goal attempts in the half, while the Aztecs went 13-for-26.
No laughing matter
Obviously, women’s basketball is a much different from the men’s game. Anybody watching it can tell that the players are slower, smaller, weaker and just not as good.
It’s just a biological fact. It doesn’t mean it is better or worse, just a completely different game.
But what’s really amazing is how horrendous the officials are in women’s college basketball.
On one play, UNLV was whistled for a foul when a player was simply blocking out. There was no hold or grab, the player just maintained contact on the box out for a bit too long.
A few possessions later came a truly comical moment.
San Diego State was running out of time on the shot clock and one of the players attempted to heave up a desperation runner while fading away.
Just as the shot was leaving her hands, the shot clock expired.
A referee blew her whistle and then looked confused as to what had taken place.
So, she just decided to call a foul on UNLV.
The call was so horrid that it caused San Diego State coach Beth Burns to crack up laughing as if she was watching the latest Dave Chapelle special.
They also pick and choose which travels they are going to call. You can’t blame them quite as much for this practice, though. There has only been about three possessions where someone didn’t travel.
On one possession, UNLV’s Shamela Hampton took two steps to her right, stopped and pump-faked, then took two steps to the left and finished with a hook shot.
She did not dribble once in this sequence. This was far from the worst un-called traveling violation of the half.
Home-court advantage?
San Diego State has a far larger group of fans in attendance for this game.
They do have the advantage of having their men’s team in action later today, but it is inexcusable to let that happen in the host city.
UNLV fans are understandably upset by the early exit of the men’s team, but the women’s team deserves some support for their impressive close to the season.
Superstition
Both teams turned the ball over 13 times in the first half.
It is a high number to commit in a half, but that’s not the problem.
Today just happens to fall on Friday the 13th.
It could be a bad sign for the second half.
