WBK At UTEP

Women's Basketball

Crain Scores 28, Verin 24 In 85-67 Win Over SE Missouri St For Third Place In Thanksgiving Classic

Box Score El Paso, TX—Brittany Crain had a double-double with season-highs of 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Rejane Verin scored 24 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in an 85-67 rout of Southeast Missouri State in the third place game of the fifth annual UTEP Thanksgiving Classic.

In the first meeting in history between Southeast Missouri State (4-3) and UCR (3-3), the Highlanders got strong performances from Crain in the first and third quarters, while Verin led the scoring attack in the second.

Saturday's win snapped a three game losing streak and got the Highlanders back to .500 on the year at 3-3.

Brittany Crain shot 4-7 from the field, 3-5 from long range for 11 first quarter points, her highest in any quarter this season. The Highlanders led the Redhawks 21-16 at the end of the first period.

Rejane Verin took over in the second in the quarter, scoring 11 points of her own, shooting 4-5, including a three pointer. 

With 2:15 remaining in the half, UCR's lead was 11, 43-32, but SE Missouri St scored five straight points to cut the margin to six. Clemence Lefebrve then hit a three to with six seconds left for the final score of the half.

At the break UCR led 46-37, fueled by Crain and Verin scoring 13 apiece.

The Highlanders as a team shot 7-12 (58%) from three point land in the first half, and were a perfect 5-5 from the charity stripe.

The Redhawks were led by Olivia Hackmann's 12 points, and Erin Bollman's 10.

At the 6:00 mark in the third leading 55-44, the Highlanders broke the game wide open with a 15-2 run to increase the lead 70-46. In the run, Crain scored nine of her 15 third quarter points, outscoring the Redhawks 15-11 in the period and putting the game out of reach. The Highlanders entered the fourth leading 70-48.

In the fourth and final period, UCR would maintain a 24 point margin most of the way. The Redhawks cut it to as little as 18, but were unable to threaten the Highlanders, who went on for the 85-67 victory in the third place game of the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic.

Crain's 28 points and 11 boards led the Highlanders, who got 24 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists from Verin, 10 points, 8 boards, 5 assists from Annelise Ito,to go along with a season-high 12 points from Clemence Lefebrve. Crain's performance led to her being selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Southeast Missouri State was led by Hackmann with 21, and Hollman with 16.

UCR shot (32-70) 45.7% from the field, 10-20 from three-point range, and at the free-throw line (11-12) 91.7% for the game, all of which are season best performances.

The Highlanders return home to face the Lions of Loyola Marymount at the SRC Arena, Tuesday, December 1, in a 7pm PT tip.