UNLV women soar past Air Force, but endure freak injuries

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Feb. 18, 2000 | 10:15 a.m.

With her improving young team cruising along with a 26-point lead over Air Force midway through the second half Thursday, about the only thing UNLV women's coach Regina Miller had to worry about was a key injury in garbage time.

Then the star of the Rebels' 86-53 win over the Falcons, freshman point guard Constance Jinks, bumped heads with teammate Carlesa Dixon in a freak collision at midcourt.

Jinks, who had 17 points and five rebounds in just 17 minutes of action, suffered a nasty-looking gash on her forehead that splattered blood all over the middle of the Thomas & Mack Center court. Dixon, who also played a solid game with 13 points, five rebounds and four steals, knelt on the court for almost five minutes after biting through her lip.

The good news? Other than a few stitches, both should be ready to play in Saturday night's key Mountain West Conference matchup with New Mexico at the Thomas & Mack.

"They're OK," trainer Grace Golden said. "They're both back in (the locker room) laughing about it right now. They'll just need a few stitches and they'll be fine."

Thanks to a 24-2 first half spurt highlighted by nine points and two assists by Jinks, the Rebels (12-11, 4-6) had already pretty much taken the bite out of the visiting Falcons (4-18, 1-8).

"We shot 61 percent from the floor in the first half," said Miller, noting her team's 49-24 halftime lead. "I thought we came out ready to play tonight. We talked all week long about not taking this game lightly and respecting each opponent."

Still, Air Force kept it close early, trailing just 16-13 with 12:37 left following a 3-pointer by forward Megan Thiedeman.

But then UNLV went on its 24-2 spurt with Jinks leading the way.

"She rebounded, she made great shots, she made great catches," Miller said.

All-American candidate Linda Frohlich led the Rebels with 18 points (9-for-9 in free throws), seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in 31 minutes of action.

UNLV continues its three-game homestand on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. against New Mexico in what is being billed as "Pack the Mack" night. The school is offering fans specially priced $2 tickets in an attempt to break the Lady Rebel attendance record. The regular-season attendance mark is 3,387 set against Lousiana Tech on Feb. 2, 1985 while the all-time mark is 3,754 for a 1985 first-round Women's NCAA Tournament game against San Diego State.