January 19, 2012 by Danny WebsterÂ
Smith makes MWC history as UNLV wins at TCU for first time
It may be a new year, but the Lady Rebels are continuing a trend they’ve been very familiar with this season: winning.
Jamie Smith recorded a team-high 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, making Mountain West Conference history as UNLV (14-5, 1-1) won for the first time ever at TCU on Wednesday night by a final count of 72-57 for their first conference win of the year.
Smith became the second player in MWC history to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds after she made a three-pointer in the first half.
This win matches the highest overall win total for head coach Kathy Olivier since she took over for UNLV in 2008 when the Lady Rebels won only 14 games in her first season.
Lenita Sanford scored 15 points and also grabbed seven rebounds and Kelli Thompson scored 12 points and dished out a game-high eight assists as the Lady Rebels did not trail the entire night against the Horned Frogs.
UNLV led by as many as 25 points as they took a 51-26 lead early in the second half, but TCU (8-10, 1-2) cut the lead to as little as eight with 2:57 left in the game when Meagan Henson made a layup and was fouled, then making the free throw to make it a 63-55 game.
But on the next UNLV possession, Smith made a three-pointer with 2:27 left to extend the lead to 11 and essentially put the game out of reach.
TCU forward Natalie Ventress led all players with 23 points and also grabbed five rebounds in the loss.
The Lady Rebels will now head to Albuquerque, N.M. to face New Mexico at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the first time this season at The Pit.
The Lobos are led by Caroline Durbin, who is the leading scorer for UNM, averaging 15.5 points a game. UNLV will also have to be ready to battle on the boards as they go against the frontcourt tandem of Porche Torrance and Jourdan Erskine.
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