by Audra Meiklejohn
Daily Lobo
Senior Chelsea Grear led UNM to an emotional 65-60 win over the UNLV Rebels in front of a sold-out arena Saturday.
A total of 18,018 fans were in attendance at The Pit -- the largest audience for a Division I women's game this season.
The Rebels came to UNM with confidence, owning bragging rights that few Mountain West Conference teams can claim. They defeated the Lobos at home, sweeping them in conference play last season. UNM has lost only 31 games in The Pit since head coach Don Flanagan arrived in 1995. They have won 109.
Forward Sherry McCracklin scored first for UNLV, but the Lobos' Cristal Garcia topped the layin with a shot from behind the arc. McCracklin scored again, but Grear stepped in and went on her own eight-point run including back-to-back 3-pointers and a jump shot, giving the Lobos a four-point lead.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Grear shut down UNLV's confidence, recording 10 points, two rebounds and a steal in the first six minutes of play. The Rebels would never regain the lead.
"This is redemption," Grear said. "I really don't like playing UNLV, and I really wanted to win this game as a senior. It was nice to have a sellout crowd, but we did it for ourselves this time."
The Lobos controlled UNLV the rest of the first half, although the Rebels kept them on their toes. UNLV would get within one point several times, but no closer. At halftime the Lobos had a comfortable seven-point advantage, leading the Rebels 33-26.
UNM point guard Mandi Moore hit a 3-pointer to kick off the second period, arousing a deafening reaction from the crowd. Senior center Jordan Adams, who was scoreless at the half, blocked McCracklin, which turned into another 3-pointer from Garcia, causing hysteria in The Pit. Adams scored her seven points of the night in the next six minutes, hitting on two fadeaways, and a three.
Garcia scored two more on a fast break, and sophomore Melissa Forest added an easy layup giving the Lobos a 15-point advantage midway through the second half.
McCracklin got the Rebels back in the game, using a Lobo traveling violation to her advantage. From there on, UNM's lead rapidly declined.
Rebel standout, Constance Jinks started a 9-0 UNLV run with a 3-pointer late in the game while scoring eight of her final 19 in that drive. McCracklin cut the deficit to one, making two free throws.
"All of a sudden we stopped moving our feet and we stopped using our eyes," Flanagan said. "I think they (the Lobos) were a little bit anxious because of the crowd. I think they were trying to do well for the crowd, and sometimes they lose focus."
After Grear hit her final shot of the night, UNLV's freshman guard Sheena Moore matched it, driving into the lane for another basket.
With a one-point lead, Jinks sent Garcia to the charity stripe, who made both key shots for the Lobos.
After a timeout, UNLV took the floor with 12.1 seconds left on the clock and needing three points to tie the game. The Rebels got the ball to Sheena Moore, but Garcia played solid defense as she missed the shot.
In a desperate effort to regain possession, McCracklin fouled UNM's Moore with four seconds remaining.
"That was the wrong person to foul," Flanagan said. "I'd bet on her hitting those free throws in the last seconds."
Moore sealed the victory for UNM with two more points from the free throw line, increasing the final to five.
The Lobos owe this win to Moore, Garcia, Grear and junior Lauren McLeod, who collectively shot 100 percent from the free-throw line. UNLV dominated nearly every other aspect of the game. It had a better shooting percentage from the field, 37.9, compared to the Lobos' 37.5. The Rebels also outrebounded UNM 40-37 and finished with four more steals.
Grear finished with 20 points and eight rebounds and sophomore Lindsey Arndt had 11 points and five boards. Moore added 12 and six respectively playing all 40 minutes while Garcia had 10 points for UNM.
The Lobos look to have a more successful road trip this week as they travel to Utah to take on the top two teams in the Mountain West-Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. UNM plays BYU on Thursday at 7 p.m. and can be heard on 610 KNML.
