LAS VEGAS, Nev. – For 35 minutes and three seconds, the Cal State Bakersfield women's basketball team was singing Viva Las Vegas. But they had to play the final five minutes, and UNLV found a way to come from behind and hand the Roadrunners a 60–52 defeat at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas Monday night.
Bakersfield (1–1 overall), which is in its first season as an NCAA Division I member, was playing its first–ever regular season game against an NCAA Division I opponent. And life at the Division I level suited the Roadrunners—for most of the night.
“I told the team after the game that they've seen how good we can be,” said Bakersfield Head Coach Tim La Kose. “UNLV increased its defensive intensity in the second half and we didn't match it.
“We expect to continue winning games and to do it at this level and we look at this as a game we could have won. We'll enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday at get ready to play at San Francisco State.”
It took Bakersfield just four minutes to build its first double–digit lead at 12–2. The Roadrunners kept the lead in double digits for most of the half, building as much as a 16–point edge at 31–15 before settling on a 34–22 lead at intermission.
UNLV made a run early in the second half, but the Roadrunners responded to take their last double–digit lead at 42–30 with 14:16 remaining.
But the Lady Rebels got hot as the Roadrunners went cold and the Bakersfield led slowly evaporated over the next four minutes. UNLV tied the game for the first time at 47–47 on a Brittany Halberg three–pointer. A Katherine Smith rebound basket, a defensive stop and a free throw by Smith got the 'Runner lead back to three points at 50–47. But Smith missed the second of her one–and–one opportunity and that opened the door for the Lady Rebels to complete the comeback.
Samantha Stickler, a 6–6 freshman center, finished three straight short jumpers as part of a game–ending 13–2 UNLV run. Bakersfield, meanwhile, went 1-of-5 from the field with four turnovers in its final eight possessions of the game.
Senior forward Rhonda Johnson (Pittsburgh/Santa Monica College) scored 12 of her team–high 14 points in the first half to help the Roadrunners build their lead. She completed a double–double with a team–high 11 rebounds.
Sequoia Holmes led all players with a 22–point, 14–rebound double–double for UNLV. Homes were the only Lady Rebel to score in double figures, though Faye Muller chipped in 11 rebounds.
Bakersfield will take time off for the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to action Dec. 1 at San Francisco State.
CS BAKERSFIELD (1–1 overall): Rhondi Naff 2-9 0-0 4; Rhonda Johnson 6-16 2-2 14; Jessi Loring 4-10 2-2 9; Kelley Tarver 1-3 0-1 2; Krista Arase 1-3 1-1 3; Tiffany Belt 0-0 0-0 0; Katherine Smith 2-4 1-2 5; Christine Kepenekian 2-6 0-0 5; Naomi Johnson 0-0 0-0 0; Florida Siaosi 3-5 1-4 7. TOTALS: 22-63 6-12 52.
UNLV (1–2 overall): Faye Muller 2-5 2-5 6; Kisha Lee 2-6 0-0 4; Shamela Hampton 4-6 1-4 9; Allison Holiday 1-5 1-4 3; Sequoia Holmes 8-18 4-7 22; Brittany Halberg 2-6 3-3 8; Latosha Pace 0-4 0-0 0; Samantha Stickler 4-7 0-0 8. TOTALS: 23-57 11-23 60.
HALFTIME: CSUB 34–22. 3-PT. FG: CSUB 2-15 (Kepenekian 1-3, Arase 1-4, R. Johnson 0-1, Tarver 0-1, Siaosi 0-1, Smith 0-2, Naff 0-3); UNLV 3-8 (Holmes 2-4, Halberg 1-1, Holiday 0-1, Pace 0-2). REBOUNDS: CSUB 43 (R. Johnson 11); UNLV 44 (Holmes 14). ASSISTS: CSUB 12 (Tarver 5); UNLV 12 (Holmes 5). TURNOVERS: CSUB 16, UNLV 16. STEALS: CSUB 5 (Naff 2); UNLV 7 (Holmes 3) FOULED OUT: None. OFFICIALS: Jones, Barlow, Abbott. ATTN: 785.
