Smith leads Lady Rebels over Riverside

Freshman Jamie Smith had 17 points and 14 rebounds for her third straight double-double, leading the UNLV women's basketball team to a 71-61 victory over UC Riverside on Sunday at Cox Pavilion.

The Lady Rebels (6-5) trailed 32-30 at halftime, then opened the second half with a 20-4 run. Raquel Jupiter's two free throws with 10:41 remaining put UNLV up 50-36, and the Highlanders (3-8) got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

UNLV took its biggest lead at 69-54 with just under two minutes left.

The Lady Rebels looked like they would put the game away much earlier, scoring the first 11 points en route to a 16-4 lead. But UC Riverside got back into it with a 12-0 run and ultimately took a two-point lead into the half.

India Chaney had 14 points and seven assists for UNLV, and Shamela Hampton and Erica Helms scored 13 points apiece.

Kernie Nkele led the Highlanders with 21 points and 13 rebounds, Jessie Schmuckal had 13 points, and Seyram Gbewonyo scored 12.

UNLV next hosts Utah State on Tuesday.