Last-Second Heroics Lead to Win

LAS -- Last-second heroics from Ambrosia Anderson and Melinda Johnsen gave BYU (20-2, 10-1) a 55-51 win over UNLV (13-8, 5-5) Saturday evening in Las Vegas.

"We struggled offensively, but we did a great job defensively," head coach Jeff Judkins said. " We executed when we needed to at the end of the game. I'm proud of how our team came together and pulled out the win."

With the score tied and just 20 seconds left in regulation, Anderson drained a three-pointer to give BYU a three-point lead. On the Rebels' next possession, Melinda Johnsen was fouled on a rebound, converting the second of two free throws to seal the win for BYU.

UNLV got on the board first with a bucket by Nikki Hitchens two mintues into the game. Ambrosia Anderson came right back to give BYU a 3-2 lead off her three pointer.

With 14:23 left in the half, Sequoia Holmes netted a bucket for the Rebels, tying the game at eight points apiece.

On Cougars next possession, Mallary Gillespie scored her second three pointer of the night to give BYU an 11-8 lead. The Cougars extended their lead to 20-12 with a jump shot from Shawnee Slade, another three from Mallary Gillespie and a layup from Dani Kubik with 7:43 left in the half.

Although BYU held a comfortable lead, a few uncharacteristic turnovers hurt the Cougars at the end of the half.

With just over six minutes on the clock, Sheena Moore scored for UNLV, followed by a Cougar turnover that resulted in a three pointer from Holmes to cut BYU's lead to three, 20-17.

Gillespie responded with her fourth three pointer of the night.

Kisha Lee and Tiggany Burries then bucketed shots off Cougar turnovers to bring the score within one, 24-23.

Kubik came right back and scored a layup for the Cougars. BYU had two opportunities to score at the end of the half, but was unable to convert. Moore nailed a three as time ticked away to tie the score at 26 points apiece going into the half.

The second half was as exciting as basketball gets, as each team had their share of great moves, as well as turnovers.

Kubik scored the first bucket of the half, followed by three-point play from Hitchens to give UNLV a one-point lead.

With just over 13 minutes remaining in the game, Anderson converted a three-point play plus another basket, giving BYU a three-point lead, 37-34.

The Rebels regained the lead, 42-41, off a pair of free throws from Moore with 8:23 remaining. BYU responded with a couple of free throws from Anderson to take back the lead with 5:42 left in the game.

Kubik netted a layup with 2:24 left on the clock to give BYU a one-point lead, 49-48, but a Cougar turnover allowed Kameca Simmons to convert a three-point play and give the Rebels a two-point lead.

Kubik responded with another layup to tie the score at 51 points with 1:31 left in regulation. With just 20 seconds left on the game clock and the shot clock running short of time, Anderson stepped up to the challenge and nailed a three pointer to give the Cougars a three-point lead.

The Rebels' desperation attempt misfired. Johnsen yanked down the rebound and was fouled. She converted one-of-two important free throws and put the game out of reach.

For the eighth time this season, three players scored in double figures for BYU. Kubik lead the way with 16 points, followed by Anderson and Gillespie with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Three players also posted double figures for UNLV, as Moore and Simmons each scored 13 points, while Holmes added 12 points.

BYU shot 38 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line, compared to UNLV's 37 percent and 86 percent, respectively.

The Cougars are now an amazing 11-0 on the road.

BYU returns home on Saturday to face Wyoming at 2 p.m. in the Marriott Center.

Official Basketball Box Score
#18 BYU vs UNLV
02/11/06 7:00 PM at Las Vegas, Nev. (Cox Pavilion)
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VISITORS: #18 BYU 20-2,10-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. f  5-17   2-6    3-3    2  2  4   0  15  2  5  0  0  32
35 JOHNSEN, Melinda.... f  1-2    0-1    2-5    0  5  5   1   4  3  1  0  2  35
45 KUBIK, Dani......... c  7-10   0-0    2-2    4  2  6   3  16  1  3  0  1  32
15 KEELE, Jennie....... g  1-5    0-2    0-0    0  7  7   1   2  3  5  0  0  36
30 GILLESPIE, Mallary.. g  5-12   4-7    0-0    0  1  1   1  14  0  2  0  0  34
01 SELJAAS, Nancy......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   4
24 HUTSON, Vanessa.....    0-3    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  2  1  0  0   9
32 SLADE, Shawnee......    1-3    0-0    2-2    2  1  3   0   4  0  0  0  0  10
52 RILEY, Lauren.......    0-1    0-0    0-0    2  3  5   2   0  0  1  1  0   8
   TEAM................                         4  5  9             1
   Totals..............   20-53   6-18   9-12  14 27 41   8  55 11 19  1  3 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-31 32.3%   2nd Half: 10-22 45.5%   Game: 37.7%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  5-14 35.7%   2nd Half:  1-4  25.0%   Game: 33.3%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  1-2  50.0%   2nd Half:  8-10 80.0%   Game: 75.0%    1
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HOME TEAM: UNLV 13-8, 5-5
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
15 MULLER, Faye........ f  1-1    0-0    0-0    0  3  3   3   2  1  0  1  1  21
21 HITCHENS, Nikki..... f  2-5    0-0    1-1    0  4  4   1   5  0  1  0  2  28
33 BURRIES, Tiffani.... c  2-3    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   5   4  2  0  2  1  22
00 MOORE, Sheena....... g  5-19   1-6    2-2    2  1  3   1  13  1  3  0  4  36
12 HOLMES, Sequoia..... g  4-10   2-4    2-3    3  2  5   4  12  1  3  2  2  33
01 CLARK, Nejlah.......    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  2  2   0   0  0  1  0  1   4
03 SIMMONS, Kameca.....    6-12   0-0    1-1    2  4  6   1  13  2  3  0  1  25
20 THOMAS, Brittney....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   4
24 HAMPTON, Shamela....    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  2  0   9
32 LEE, Kisha..........    1-5    0-1    0-0    2  1  3   0   2  0  1  0  1  18
   TEAM................                         1  3  4             2
   Totals..............   21-57   3-12   6-7   10 21 31  17  51  7 15  7 13 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-24 45.8%   2nd Half: 10-33 30.3%   Game: 36.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  1-6  16.7%   Game: 25.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-3  66.7%   2nd Half:  4-4  100 %   Game: 85.7%    0
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Officials: Sue Kennedy, Rick Morris, Adria Molina
Technical fouls: #18 BYU-None. UNLV-None.
Attendance:
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
#18 BYU.......................   26   29  -   55
UNLV..........................   26   25  -   51