UNLV LADY REBELS COMES UP SHORT IN SECOND GAME OF SERIES WITH NEW MEXICO, 81-73
Lady Rebels outscored by 21 from three-point range
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UNLV could not keep pace with New Mexico’s offense in the first three quarters, and a fourth quarter rally would come up short as the Lady Rebels dropped an 81-73 contest to the Lobos Sunday afternoon in Mountain West women’s basketball action from the Cox Pavilion. This marked the third straight conference series UNLV has earned a split in, putting them at 5-6 overall and 3-3 in league play. UNM meanwhile improved to 6-1 for the year, 3-1 in the MW with its only loss of the season coming on Jan. 15 against UNLV in the first game 78-60.
THE TURNING POINT: UNLV held an early 13-9 lead after an offensive putback by Keyana Wilfred at the 4:15 mark of the first quarter. The Lady Rebels would not score again in the quarter, and UNM scored 12 straight, including eight off UNLV turnovers, to take a 21-13 advantage at the end of the quarter. New Mexico opened the second quarter with two more baskets to complete the 12-0 run for a 25-13 lead. A 7-0 run later in the quarter put UNM up 35-19, and the Lobos led by double-digits the rest of the way until the final minute.
THE FOURTH QUARTER: New Mexico would lead by as much as 23, 65-42, before UNLV scored the last four points of the third to close within 19 points. The Lady Rebels then scored the first eight of the fourth to make it an 11-point game, 65-54 at the 8:11 mark. The Lobos managed to make enough shots though to hold off UNLV’s fourth quarter charge, as the closest the Lady Rebels came within six, 79-73 with 16 seconds on the clock, after knocking down three treys over a 39-second span.
LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: For the second straight game Delaynie Bryne posted a 20+ point game with 23 off 7-of-16 shooting while she added seven rebounds for UNLV.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Lady Rebels were hurt by their three-point performance, finishing a season-low 5-of-24 from behind the arc for 20.8%. UNLV actually missed 19 of its first 21 attempts before finishing with three straight in the final minute. New Mexico meanwhile connected on 12-of-35 for 34.3%, but more notably, shot 6-of-11 (54.5%) during the third quarter to help extend their lead.
QUOTEABLE: “Obviously disappointed with the loss today. I was proud of our fight and effort in the fourth quarter, but a basketball game is four quarters, and we need to have that same effort and intensity for the same three. Collectively as a group we have to figure out what it was and make changes. We knew how good New Mexico was and are, and they showed it today. They had a couple of players get hot and we didn’t have the same energy and bounce to our steps as we needed. We’ve been spoiled with a run of home games, now we have to go on the road to Utah State for our next games so excited to see what our first road trip brings us.” – UNLV head coach Lindy La Rocque
LADY REBEL NOTES
* – Joining Byrne in double-figures was freshman Desi-Rae Young with 15, while Anna Blount added 10 off the bench.
* – UNLV did win the battle on the boards by a 41-34 margin.
* – The Lady Rebels cut down on the turnovers, with just 11 over the final three quarters, but still finished with 20 for the game, leading to a 24-19 edge for the Lobos on points off turnovers.
* – UNLV finished the afternoon 28-of-67 from the floor (41.8%), and made 12-of-15 at the line for 80%.
NEXT TIME OUT: UNLV is scheduled for a pair of games at Utah State in Logan, Utah. The first game is slated for Monday, Jan. 25 at 5 pm, while the second game will be played on Wednesday, Jan. 27, also at 5 pm.