Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -

Boise State sank seven three-pointers in the first half for a 14-point lead and then held off a second half rally by UNLV to hand the Lady Rebels a 78-67 setback on Wednesday night in Mountain West conference women's basketball action at the Cox Pavilion. UNLV dropped to 2-2 in league play, 5-10 overall, while the Broncos improved to 11-4, 3-1 in the MW.

UNLV never led in the game and the contest was tied just once, 6-6 three minutes into the game. UNLV kept the game close for most of the first half though, and was within one point, 14-13 with 11:01 to play off an Alana Cesarz free throw. BSU then started to heat up from downtown. Two treys from Deanna Weaver and Yaiza Rodriguez pushed the edge to 25-17 with 7:58 to play. Brooke Johnson hit a shot from downtown to bring UNLV within five with 7:08 to play in the half. The Lady Rebels were then held without a field goal for the next 6:07 of the game. A layup from Amie Callaway was the only field goal UNLV converted the rest of the half at the 1:01 mark. BSU took advantage of that field goal drought to close the half on a 13-4 run. The Broncos added three more treys during that run, which gave them a 38-24 edge at halftime.

UNLV made a few runs at BSU in the beginning of the second half, cutting the lead to 10 at 19:20 and to 11 at 16:07. The Broncos responded with an 8-2 run that featured a pair of treys to open their biggest lead of the night, 51-34 with 13:52 to play.

Another BSU trey made the score 58-42 with 10:35 on the clock, UNLV began an impressive really, first scoring eight unanswered points, all from Danielle Miller, to close within 58-50 at the 7:10 mark. The lead grew back to 63-53 for BSU before the Lady Rebels scored eight of the next ten points. Miller capped the 8-2 run with a trey at the 4:14 mark to make it a 65-61 game. UNLV then had a chance to cut the edge to just two points but missed a layup and BSU was fouled on the other end. Rodriguez nailed both free throw attempts for the Broncos, who would make 9-of-10 at the line over the next two minutes. UNLV was held scoreless over that stretch, and the 9-0 run put the Broncos back ahead 74-61 entering the final minute.

Miller, the top scorer in the MW, posted 22 points to lead all players. Cesarz also finished in double-figures with 10. UNLV was held to 34.4% shooting (21-of-61), including just 25% in the first half. The Lady Rebels made 4-of-17 from three-point range for 23.5%, and were 21-of-31 at the line for 67.7%. UNLV lost the battle of the boards 49-39, leading to a 15-6 edge on second chance points for BSU. The Lady Rebels did force 24 turnovers and posted a season-high tying 14 steals.

Weaver led BSU with 18 points. Brooke Pahukoa added 14 points while making all four of her shots from downtown. Rodriguez posted 12 points off the bench, and Shalen Shaw grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. The Broncos made 25-of-64 from the floor for 39.1%, were 12-of-28 from behind the arc for 42.9%, and 16-of-22 at the charity stripe for 72.7%.

UNLV returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, when it hosts San Diego State at 2 pm in the Cox Pavilion. Prior to the game will be a free Lady Rebel Tune-Up Clinic, open to girls in boys in grades 2-8, and participants can be signed up on UNLVRebels.com.