Courtesy of UNLV Athletics –

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – McKinna Brackens led the way with a career-high 19 points and career-high 14 rebounds as the UNLV women’s basketball team (5-2) handed UCF (6-1) its first loss of the season after the Lady Rebels defeated the Knights 71-52 on Wednesday afternoon at the UNLV Thanksgiving Classic. UNLV and UCF are now even in the all-time series with one win a piece.

After scoring seven points in the first half, Brackens tallied 12 points in just the third quarter. Brackens was 7-for-9 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the three-point line and 2-for-2 at the free throw line. Additionally, Brackens’ rebounds were nearly all defensive, having 12 and two offensive rebounds. Amarachi Kimspon was the second leading scorer for the Scarlet & Gray with 18 points and was 8 of 13 from the field. Kiara Jackson was the third Lady Rebel in double-figure scoring with 12 points. Jackson led the squad with nine assists, which also ties her career high.

The Knights were led by Hannah Gusters with 18 points, while Kaitlin Peterson added nine and Nevaeh Brown collected seven, respectively.

SHOOTING PERCENTAGE: The Lady Rebels shot 50.0% from the field (29 of 58) and 46.7% from behind the arc (7 of 15) compared to the Knights’ 29.0% from the field (20 of 69) and 40.0% from three (2 of 5). In just the first quarter, UNLV shot 58.8% (10 of 17) compared to UCF’s 27.8% (5 of 18).

QUOTABLE: “This was a bounce back game for us. We’ve been working really hard since our last game on being focused on what we need to improve upon and I’m extremely proud of our group for coming out here and doing it. Our post touches, execution and taking advantage of opportunities is something I thought we cleaned up a lot. Still not perfect by any means but really proud of our effort. Tremendous game for McKinna (Brackens), she’s been working really hard. We talk about improvement from freshman to sophomore year and she’s one of the most improved players, and that’s because of the work she puts in, how focused and willing she is to do everything that we ask. It was a great response game from Amarachi (Kimpson). We had some highlights from people that don’t always get minutes. Erica Collins was huge in the game getting minutes in both halves and being a force in the battle. Overall, I’m really proud of the response and now we have to continue to move it forward.” said head coach Lindy La Rocque

OTHER NOTES:

  • UNLV out-rebounded UCF 45-40.
  • The Lady Rebels outscored the Knights in three of the four quarters. The two squads each scored 17 points in the fourth quarter.
  • UNLV won the party in the paint 36-32.
  • UCF’s bench outscored UNLV’s bench only by four points, 12-8.
  • The Lady Rebels dished out 21 assists against the Knights.
  • UCF and UNLV were even on second chance points with nine each.

HIGHLIGHTS

UP NEXT: The Scarlet & Gray will next play East Carolina in the final game of the UNLV Thanksgiving Classic on Friday, Nov. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.

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