Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -

UNLV shot 58% in the first half while opening an 18-point halftime edge and cruised from there for a 75-52 win over in-state rival Nevada, Reno on Wednesday night in Mountain West conference women's basketball action at the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels avenged their loss earlier this month in Reno, their first loss in nine games to UNR, to earn a season split of the series. It also ties the teams at 1-1 in the Governor's Series, the all-sports competition between the two schools presented by NV Energy and sponsored by Barrock Gold. Both teams will receive 1.5 points unless there is a rubber match in the conference tournament.

The 23-point win margin is the largest in the series since a 33-point UNLV win in Reno on Dec. 9, 2001. The victory also improved UNLV to a perfect 16-0 all-time against the Wolf Pack in Las Vegas. UNLV moves to 4-4 in the conference, holding onto sole possession of fifth place, while UNR dropped to 6-12, 2-5 in MW play.

After falling behind early 5-2, UNLV went on a 10-0 run and was never seriously threatened again. Three weeks after going 0-for-12 from three-point range in the first meeting with UNR, the Lady Rebels knocked down two in a two-minute span that bookended the run. The second trey put UNLV ahead 12-5 at the 14:39 mark. The Wolf Pack did cut the lead down to five points three times, the last time coming at the 10:59 mark off a layup from Nyasha Lesure. UNLV answered back with two layups to push the edge back to eight.

A smothering defense was key to UNLV's advantage in the first half, holding UNR to just 29% shooting, 9-of-31 from the floor. That defensive performance was at its best in the final 3:30 of the half. With the edge 30-22 in favor of the home team, the Lady Rebels held UNR scoreless the rest of the way while going 0-for-6 shooting. UNLV took advantage by scoring the final 10 points, including a trey from Briana Charles with six seconds to play for a 40-22 edge going into the break.

UNLV opened the second half scoring eight of the first nine points for a 25-point edge. Danielle Miller's layup with 17:13 left in the game made the score 48-23 in favor of the Lady Rebels. The lead grew as high as 26, first reached at 58-32 at the 12:28 mark. It was a 26-point lead three more times the rest of the game, the last coming at 66-40 with 5:06 to play, before the Lady Rebels settled for a 23-point victory, UNLV's largest win margin of the season.

Three players finished in double-figures for UNLV, led by Miller's game-high 19 points. Aley Rohde posted 16 on 7-of-7 shooting, while she added eight points. Alana Cesarz was next with 12 points, while Nikki Wheatley recorded nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. UNLV shot 52.6% (30-of-57) from the floor, its second-best percentage of the season. The Lady Rebels were 5-of-14 from three-point range for 35.7% and 10-of-21 at the line for 47.6%. The Lady Rebels were outrebounded by a 47-39 margin, but forced 21 turnovers while recording 11 steals.

Emily Burns paced UNR with 17 points. Mimi Mungedi added 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Wolf Pack finished the night shooting 29.7% (19-of-64) from the field, 2-of-12 from behind the arc for 16.7% and 12-of-24 at the line for 50%.

UNLV is back in action on Saturday with a road contest in Colorado Springs, Colo., against Air Force at 1 pm (PT).