It was a tale of two halves Saturday night in Coussoulis Arena with host Cal State San Bernardino winning the first half 38-33 and University of Nevada, Las Vegas, winning the second half to pull out a come-from-behind 63-55 exhibition victory over the Coyotes.
A crowd of 313 watched CSUSB shoot 47 percent in the first half to lead the NCAA Division I Rebels of the Mountain West Conference by five points at the half after leading by as many as 10 points.
However, a combination of Rebels defense and cold shooting by the Coyotes in the second half (seven for 37 – 19 percent) doomed CSUSB as UNLV caught up at 44-44 on a layup by Shamela Hampton, took the lead 46-44 on a layup by Dominique Harris and never trailed again.
The win was the first for new UNLV Head Coach Kathy Olivier, who returned to her alma mater after 15 years at UCLA.
Hampton led the Rebels with 17 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Erica Helms added 14 points, six assists and two steals while Harris had 10 points, six rebounds and a steal.
Junior Krystal Urzua had a game-high 21 points and five rebounds for the Coyotes. Junior transfer Morgan Pryor came off the bench to score 11 points. Senior forward Jaclyn Rainville had 10 points and four rebounds.
The Rebels shot 36 percent for the game (21 of 58) and were five of 16 from three-point range. CSUSB shot 32 percent for the game on 23 of 71, but hit just six of 29 from long range (20.7 percent). UNLV outrebounded the Coyotes 53-36.
The Coyotes went up by six points with 11 minutes left in the first half, 22-16 on a jumper by Audrey Duran and by the 5:50 mark were up by 10 on a three-pointer by Urzua, 36-26.
UNLV whittled away at the lead and went to the locker room leading 38-33 on a layup by Morgan Pryor.
The Coyotes moved out to a 44-36 advantage four minutes into the second half on a jumper by Rainville but UNLV went to work and tied the game at 44 at the 13:14 mark. UNLV eventually led by 10, 58-48 on a layup by Hampton with 3:50 left in the game.
CSUSB will host Dixie State at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15 in its regular season opener.
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