LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The most heartbreaking finish of the season the Tigers dropped to 2-8 with an 80-79 loss to UNLV. The Tigers got out to a 17-point lead at halftime but were not able to hang on against the Rebels as a furious second half comeback downed the Tigers 80-79. 
 
Sam Ashby had a career game, scoring a career high 31 points while only missing once from three and missing just three total shots. Anaya James seems to score 15+ points with her eyes closed at this point as she scored 17 points along with leading the team with five assists and two steals. James was second in rebounds with five as Josephine Millard led the Tigers with six boards. 
 
The Tigers started the game on fire, scoring eight straight points to start the game thanks to two Sam Ashby threes. The Rebels responded quickly, getting to within one before the Rebels were hit with two technical fouls on the same play allowing Ashby to hit four straight free throws to extend the lead to five. The Tigers headed into the second quarter up by seven. 
 
The second quarter was all Tigers, as Anaya James hit a three to put the Tigers up by ten less than two minutes into the quarter. The Tigers continued to pull away as Ashby reached 20 points with over a minute remaining and Pacific led by 17 heading into the half. 
 
The Tigers extended their lead to 19 to start the third quarter. But the Rebels were not going away quietly, scoring seven straight points to cut the Tiger's lead to single digits halfway through the quarter. The two teams continued to battle as Pacific kept UNLV at arms's reach by the end of the quarter. 
 
The Rebels grabbed the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter, leading by six points with seven minutes remaining. The Tigers battled back and retook the lead with just under two and a half minutes remaining as Josephine Millard hit a layup to give the Tigers the lead. James hit a shot to put the Tigers up by three before the Rebels took the lead with four straight points. The Tigers forced a turnover with five seconds remaining and were able to get a shot off but could not get the shot to fall and fell by one point. 
 
The Tigers are back on the court on Tuesday, December 21 as they take on Weber State for the final game before the holiday break.