LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -

It took the Lady Rebels longer to pull away then it did in the first two games, but a 27-point third quarter sparked UNLV to a 72-52 victory over UC Irvine on Saturday afternoon in women's college basketball action from the Cox Pavilion. It marks the fourth time the Lady Rebels have started out 3-0 under Head Coach Kathy Olivier, though first time since the 2011-12 season. All three wins have been by at least 20 points as well, the first time that's happened since four-straight 20+ victories midway through the 2014-15 campaign.

"It looks like fun basketball when we are pushing and sharing the ball the way we did on offense today," said Olivier of the win over the Anteaters.

For the second straight game senior center Aley Rohde paced the Lady Rebels in scoring thanks to a 15-point game on 7-of-9 shooting. Joining her in double-figures was Brooke Johnson with 13 points, Dakota Gonzalez with 11, while point guard Nikki Wheatley recorded her second career double-double after finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Key to the victory was the Lady Rebels' defensive effort, as they limited UCI to just 26.7% shooting for the game (20-of-75), including 20.5% (8-of-39) in the first half. UNLV also came up with 12 steals in the game, and held a 20-10 edge on points off turnovers. Another advantage for UNLV was its strong play inside, as it finished with a 36-10 edge on points in the paint.

For the first time this season UNLV did not end the first quarter with a double-digit lead, as the Anteaters kept it mostly close in the opening half. UCI actually held a several times in the opening minutes of the game, the last at 8-7 on a three-pointer with 6:47 on the clock. Amie Callaway then drained a trey from the top of the key for UNLV while Dakota Gonzalez hit back-to-back jumpers for a 7-0 run and a 14-8 lead with 4:35 left in the quarter. The lead increased to 18-10 on a layup by Rohde, but UCI scored the last four points to close within 18-15 after the first 10 minutes.

The second quarter saw Whealtey pick up a second foul just over two minutes in. She went to the bench for the rest of the half, and though UNLV was able to add six points to the edge, going up 32-23, the offense seemed to sputter at times without their point guard. That wasn't the case in the third quarter, as her intensity sparked the Lady Rebels to a 27-point quarter, which helped them open a 21-point advantage at 59-38. "In the third quarter Nikki really picked things up," said Olivier. " We pushed the ball well and that led to better looks on the offensive end." The lead grew to as high as 24 points before the Anteaters hit a pair of threes in the final 1:39 to bring the final margin down to 72-52.

UNLV shot 41% (25-of-61) for the game. The Lady Rebels struggled from downtown at 26.7% (4-15), but made 18-26 at the free throw line. They also held a 56-45 edge on the boards.

Two Anteaters finished in double-figures, including Mokun Fajemisin's 16 points-11 rebound afternoon, while Irene Chavez added 13.

The Lady Rebels look for 4-0 on Monday night when they host Cal State San Marcos at 7pm in the Cox Pavilion.