Rebels Fall To Cowgirls During Pink Zone 2009 Game

The following is from http://www.unlvrebels.com/ : ""The UNLV athletic department is asking all women's basketball fans to Put on Pink and Pack the Pavilion.

Join the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's "Rebel Rally for a Cause" and the Lady Rebels for "Pink Zone UNLV 2009", in support of breast cancer awareness. Fans will receive breast cancer awareness information compliments of the UNLV Jean Nidetch Women's Center, and there will be breast cancer awareness giveaways throughout the game.

The Lady Rebels also will be honoring breast cancer survivors during pregame and halftime activities. Each fan will receive a raffle ticket for their chance to win free golf or a gift certificate to Blue Martini at Town Square during halftime. Also, don't forget your camera to take pictures with Hey Reb aboard the Komen Cart.""

During the pre-game warm ups on the court for the Rebels, player Erica Helms came over near our front row seats. She tossed a white wristband with a pink breast cancer ribbon on it, with her name and number written on the back, to my son. Both my children took turns wearing it during the game. I was wearing my pink shirt that the team gave out at last years event. We also had pink glow sticks necklaces, and rubber bracelets that were being handed out.

My children and I have been season tickets for awhile now. This year the children are old enough now that we moved to the first row from the second row seats we have had from the beginning.

The team, coaching staff, cheerleaders, band, and other fans know us. I'm a very vocal and blunt person, more so when I'm at a sporting event. On a recent trip to the UNLV Bookstore, I pick mini bullhorns, so now the Cox Pavilion can hear us.

The game was an exciting one to watch. For awhile it was back and forth. The outcome was not the one I had in mine. The UNLV Rebels lost to the Cowgirls, 50-44. I don't want to sound like sour grapes, but I strongly feel the level of officiating played a part in the final outcome.

Again from unlvrebels.com: ""UNLV was held to a season-low 17 points in the second half and shot under 30% from the floor for the second straight game as Wyoming claimed a 50-44 victory on Wednesday night in Mountain West Conference women's basketball action from the Cox Pavilion. The loss dropped UNLV to 10-15 on the year, 3-9 in league play, while the Cowgirls won for the second straight year in Las Vegas to improve to 13-11, 5-6 in the MWC.

Wyoming led for almost the entire first half, holding UNLV to just six points over the first eight minutes while opening up a 16-6 lead. The lead was at seven points, 23-16, before UNLV used its quickness to spark an 11-0 run over the final five minutes of the half. Erica Helms started the run with a layup and a three-pointer, and following a free throw from India Chaney, Helms' trey at the 1:40 mark gave UNLV the lead at 25-23. Shamela Hampton would add a layup with just over a minute to play, and the Lady Rebels would take a 27-23 lead into the break.

After finding its touch on offense to end the first stanza, the Lady Rebels opened the second 20 minutes missing six straight shots. The key stretch of the game came after Chaney banked in a jumper to put UNLV up 31-26. Megan McGuffey's layup on the other end started a 13-1 run for the Cowgirls, and the Lady Rebels never recovered. Kristen Scheffler's layup at 9:51 ended the run, giving Wyoming a 39-32 lead. Three times UNLV cut the deficit to five points, the last on a layup from Hampton with 5:49 to play. The Lady Rebel would make just one more field goal over the final five minutes while missing 11 shots, and also missed four of seven at the free throw line as the Cowgirls finished with the six-point victory.

Hampton led UNLV with her 12th double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds, but was 5-of-14 from the floor and 2-of-7 at the line. Helms scored a team-high 14 points, while Dominique Harris added eight points, but did not score in the final 29 minutes. The Lady Rebels finished shooting 29.8% (17-of-57) from the floor, 5-of-21 for 23.8% on three-pointers, and made a season-low 38.5% of its shots at the line (5-of-13). UNLV was out rebounded by three, 42-39, and turned the ball over 17 times.

Hillary Carlson paced the Cowgirls with 18 points and eight rebounds, and was followed by McGuffey with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Wyoming shot 37.3% (19-of-51) from the field, 3-of-17 from three-point range (17.6%), and posted eight blocks.""

After the game, my children and I played some basketball on the court with other fans, while we waited to talk with the players and staff on the way out of the arena from the lockeroom, and media commitments.

I also talked with a staff member about a request for passes to the Mountain West Conference Championships that will be held here in Las Vegas. I can't afford the prices of the tickets. I'm hoping like last year that I have a chance to go.

It's hard to believe that one of my family's favorite players, Brittany Halberg (pictured above) only has a few more regular season games left. My children were very sad to hear the news on the ride home. Jenna, my daughter was so very cute, saying, she can't go daddy, we love her so very much! My son, Zac was upset and saying we really going to miss her. Both always have to get a hug from Brittany before we can leave the arena.

I thought it be best to prepare my children for this, it will be a loss for them. I try my best to explain the Brittany is moving on to a new chapter in her life, and she'll back on alumni night, and for visits I'm sure. I also said you never know, maybe she'll be a coach one day. This seemed to bring some level of comfort to them.

The Lady Rebels are on the road this weekend to face BYU. They will return to action here in Las Vegas next Wednesday.