Smith, Lady Rebels roll to win over New Mexico
The UNLV women's basketball team went on a huge run that spanned the end of the first half and the beginning of the second and rolled past New Mexico 64-50 on Saturday in Mountain West Conference play at Albuquerque.
The Lady Rebels (15-5, 3-1 MWC) trailed 17-14 midway through the first half, then went on a 24-6 tear that included the first six points of the second half to build a 38-23 lead. New Mexico (6-12, 0-4) got no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Jamie Smith led UNLV with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Markiell Styles had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Alana Cesarz scored nine points, and Sandrine Nzeukou and Mia Bell had eight points apiece.
Smith started UNLV's big run with a 3-pointer, the first of nine straight points for the Lady Rebels. Nzeukou capped the run on a layup with 1:42 elapsed in the second half.
New Mexico climbed back in with an 18-9 surge, cutting the Lobos' deficit to 47-41 with 7:34 left, but UNLV put the game away with consecutive 3-pointers from Smith, Kelli Thompson and Bell that pushed its lead to 59-43.
Lauren Taylor led New Mexico with 13 points, and Caroline Durbin scored 10.
