Lobos Edge Rebels 70-67 in MWC Tournament Semifinals
March 11, 2005
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In a game that swayed back and forth all afternoon, the final sway went to New Mexico as it closed with an 11-2 run to down UNLV 70-67 in the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. Now 25-4 on the season, top-seed UNM shoots for its third straight tournament championship tomorrow afternoon when it faces No. 2 seed Utah.
Saturday’s tipoff is 4 p.m. from the Pepsi Center in Denver. The game will be televised by ESPN2 on a delayed basis beginning at 10:30 MST.
Trailing 65-59 with less than six minutes remaining, the Lobo comeback began with a three-point play by fantastic freshman Dionne Marsh and was capped by junior Judy Vogt’s uncontested 3-pointer. Vogt’s bucket ended a 9-0 run and gave UNM a 68-65 lead with 2:18 remaining.
After a Lobo turnover, UNLV (17-13) trimmed the deficit to one on a tip by Nikki Hitchens with 58 seconds left.
The final half-minute since palpitations throughout the collective hearts of all Lobo fans. Clinging to the one-point lead and the shot clock evaporating, senior Mandi Moore missed a jumper with 30 seconds left. Marsh pulled down the offensive board and UNM did not have to put up another shot. Inexplicably, Moore took a 12-footer with 20 ticks remaining and missed again. This time, UNLV got the rebound and had a chance to win.
Brittney Thomas drove the lane but her attempt with nine seconds left missed badly. Moore grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 5.8 seconds to go. The senior made up for the ill-timed attempt moments earlier by calmly making both ends of the 1-and-1.
UNLV’s long in-bounds pass was deflected by Lindsey Arndt past mid-court. The ball ricocheted around before Sheena Moore launched a potential game-tying 22-footer from the left wing. Moore’s attempt was off the mark and the Lobos celebrated their sixth straight win overall and eighth consecutive triumph in the conference tournament.
Close games between the Lobos and Rebels were the norm this season. They played three games with every contest decided by three points. Fortunately, UNM won the last two. Today’s game featured 13 ties and 12 lead changes with neither team leading by more than seven points.
Marsh finished with 27 points, just one short of her career-high set against Air Force. She added 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Marsh scored 16 points in the first half, 10 straight at one point and six during a 10-0 Lobo run that helped erase a 31-24 Rebels lead.
Sheena Moore’s 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer knotted the score at 34-all.
A highlight of Marsh’s performance was the first 3-pointer of her collegiate career. Taking an in-bounds pass 30 feet from the basket and the shot clock winding down, Marsh swished a desperation shot as the horn sounded for the Lobos’ third basket of the game. It was only her second 3-point attempt of the season.
Marsh, who came into the game averaging a team-high 12.3 points in just a little more than 21 minutes a game, has scored in double figures in 16 straight games.
Mandi Moore, despite shooting just 3 of 14 from the field, finished with nine points, a career-best 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and just one turnover while playing the entire 40 minutes. Lindsey Arndt added 12 points and five rebounds.
The Lobos committed a season-low six turnovers.