The Horned Frogs withstood the UNLV Lady Rebels’ valiant effort at a comeback to win Saturday’s game in Las Vegas 66-61.

TCU (10-5, 2-0 Mountain West Conference) led from the start as the team found open shots on most of their early possessions.

UNLV (7-8, 0-2 MWC) allowed TCU to shoot 42.9 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the three-point line in the first half which helped the team build its lead to as many as 18 points.

“It’s unacceptable to give up [11-of-23 from the 3-point line], especially in our house,” UNLV head coach Kathy Olivier said.

The Lady Frogs held a 37-23 halftime lead, but the Rebels began to turn the game around after the break.

Rebel senior Shamela Hampton and freshman Jamie Smith led the comeback and each recorded a double-double.

Despite the Horned Frogs’ struggles in the second half, they managed to keep the Rebels at least three possessions away from the lead until the three-minute mark, when the comeback started to unravel.

After getting the lead down to five, UNLV gave up a three-point basket to TCU junior TK LaFleur, who went on to lead the Horned Frogs with 20 points. The Rebels would get the lead back down to three points with 10 seconds left, but ran out of time and were forced to intentionally foul until time ran out.

The Rebels were disappointed with the loss but said they were able to take some confidence out of the comeback attempt.

“In the first half we were letting them get the ball on the other side of the court, and in the second half we put more pressure on them and were stopping them more,” said sophomore Lady Rebel guard Erica Helms.

The Lady Frogs have won their last two games and will take on conference rival Brigham Young University on Tuesday in Fort Worth.

Sean Amarillo is a staff writer for the UNLV Rebel Yell.