Rebels trounce ‘Eaters

IRVINE — A late second-half rally wasn’t enough to keep the UC Irvine women from falling, 85-73, to UNLV Sunday afternoon.

Trailing by 14, their largest deficit of the game, the Anteaters (4-5) pulled within six with 7:21 left in the game after a three-point goal by senior forward Miranda Forry.

However, the Rebels hit eight of 12 free throws, compared to just one from Irvine senior guard Anna Mai for the win at Bren Events Center.

“They’re the most athletic team we’ve played this year, and they were definitely challenging, and we didn’t step up in all the areas that we needed to,” said Irvine Coach Molley Tuter.

While the UNLV had a size advantage, Tuter said the Anteaters exacerbated it by not boxing out.

Six-foot-three junior center Shamela Hampton had 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Rebels (3-6), who had four scorers in double digits. It was UNLV’s first road win of the season.

“In the previous games we won, it was because we got defensive stops when we needed them, and tonight we did not do that,” Tuter said. “We were fouling them.”

In addition, the Rebels held Irvine scoreless for the first three minutes of the second half.

Mai and senior forward Stephanie Duda fouled out, while sophomore guard Rebecca Maessen’s effectiveness was limited when she picked up her fourth foul.

Led by Hampton, UNLV out-rebounded the Anteaters 48-33, one of the key difference-maker for the Rebels.

But Tuter was not impressed with the Anteaters’ offense either.

UC Irvine shot 72% percent from the free throw line, compared to just 66% for the Rebels, but they didn’t get to it enough. UNLV was 25-of-37.

Forry led with 14 points, while sophomore forward Kelly Cochran picked up 13 points and nine rebounds.

The Anteaters play at Loyola Marymount Saturday at 2 p.m.

— From staff reports

Nonconference

UNLV 85, UC Irvine 73

UNLV – Hampton 27, Holmes 14, Holiday 10, Harris 11, Jupiter 8, Tirtiaux, Helms 4, Halberg 3, Oberg 3.

3-pt. goals - .Tirtiaux, Oberg.

UCI – Forry 14, Cochran 13, Duda 10, Tull 8, Maessen 6, Mai 6, Zdenek 6, Ishizaki 5, Barnes 3, Johnson 2.

3-pt. goals – Forry 2.

Fouled out – Duda, Mai.

Halftime – UNLV, 42-39.