No. 19 Utah 61, UNLV 45

3/10/2006 4:17 PM

DENVER (AP) - Shona Thorburn had 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lead No. 19 Utah to a 61-45 victory over UNLV in the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament Friday.

Kim Smith added 11 points and four assists for Utah (23-6), which advances to the championship game Saturday against the winner of the BYU-TCU game. Heidi Carlsen and Julie Larsen also had 11 points for the Utes.

Nikki Hitchens led UNLV (18-11) with 11 points. Sherry McCracklin had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Rebels, who struggled with 29 percent shooting and 17 turnovers.

Smith, a four-time Mountain West Player of the Year, set up one of two baskets by Joh-Teena Filipe in a 6-0 run that put the Utes ahead 47-36. UNLV cut it to 47-42 with 4:44 remaining on four straight free throws and Sheena Moore's short jumper.

Utah was in control early in the game, using an 11-0 run to build a 15-8 lead. Larsen hit the first of her two 3-pointers of the half in the run.

After McCracklin's two free throws cut the lead to 15-10, the game was delayed by 24 minutes because of a shot clock malfunction.

When play resumed, UNLV went on a 12-4 run, the final two coming on a rebound basket by Sequoia Holmes that gave the Rebels a 22-19 lead.

Utah reclaimed the lead, and Larsen's second 3-pointer and three points from Carlsen over the final 3:16 of the half gave the Utes a 27-24 halftime lead.