Jan. 29, 2000
SAN DIEGO - Junior Shannon Lee scored a career-high 17 points, including the game-winning lay-up with just 29 seconds to play, as the San Diego State women's basketball team picked up its first-ever Mountain West Conference victory with a 54-52 victory over UNLV at Cox Arena Saturday night.
It was the second time this season that Lee has rescued the Aztecs by scoring the deciding points with the game clock winding down. The junior from Pasadena, Calif., also tallied the game-winner in SDSU's 51-49 victory over Montana earlier this season.
"Shannon was just great tonight," said SDSU head coach Barb Smith, whose Aztecs improved to 6-12, 1-4 Mtn. West, with the victory. "This is easily her best effort of the year. But the win was truly a team effort. I thought our defense was outstanding, especially early on."
The Lady Rebels (10-8, 2-3 Mtn. West) outrebounded SDSU by a 46-33 margin, but managed to shoot just 39 percent from the field, including 0-for-17 from beyond the arc. UNLV also connected on just 2-of-13 free throws.
SDSU, which scored 19 of the game's first 21 points, led by as many as 19 in the first half before withstanding a furious UNLV comeback bid down the stretch.
The Aztecs cruised to a 36-22 halftime advantage, but UNLV (10-8, 2-3 Mtn. West), which entered the contest on a two-game winning streak, began chipping away at the Aztecs' lead right out of the gate after intermission.
The Lady Rebels, who were led by sophomore Linda Frohlich's 22 points and 22 rebounds, outscored SDSU 12-6 to open the second stanza, pulling within eight points at 42-34 with 14:22 to play. The Aztecs recovered enough to pushed the lead back to 11 points, 49-38, at the 10:10 mark, before UNLV fashioned a 14-1 run over the next 7:21 to take its first lead of the game at 52-50 with just 2:49 remaining on clock.
A pair free throws by junior Anita Bundage knotted the game at 52 all before Lee split the UNLV defense for the game-winning lay-up. The Lady Rebels had two final possessions in the waning seconds, but could only get off one shot at the basket, as Lee, who also finished with a game-high seven assists, picked off a Dishawn McCracklin turnover at midcourt to seal the victory.
Freshman Kacee Wheeler, who knocked down a career-best three three-pointers, was the only other Aztec to finish in double figures with 11 points. SDSU's two leading scorers, freshman Jamey Cox and senior Mary Apiafi, where held to just five and four points, respectively.
Constance Jenks, UNLV's only other consistent offensive threat on the night, finished with 18 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field.
"We had three great practices leading up to tonight's game and I honestly believe that was the difference," Smith added. "We were ready to play tonight."
San Diego State returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 3 when the Aztecs host Wyoming at Cox Arena in the opening game of a men's/women's double header. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.