Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV-Oregon State PDF Box Score

UNLV gave all it had against 25th-ranked Oregon State, and were able to grab a nine-point fourth-quarter lead, but the exhausted Lady Rebels weren't able to hold onto that margin, as they were outscored 7-0 over the final 3:27 by the Beavers in a 62-59 loss on Monday night in the final game of the Play4Kay quarterfinals from T-Mobile Arena in women's college basketball action. Suffering just its second loss of the season, the Lady Rebels dropped to 8-2 overall while OSU improved to 8-1. UNLV will now play New Mexico State in the consolation bracket on Tuesday at 3 pm, while Oregon State will face Quinnipiac in the semifinals.

That UNLV was in a position for a victory was a sign of its determination, as with 5:50 left in the third quarter, starting point guard Nikki Wheatley went down with a knee injury, and did not return to the court. She was the team's leading scorer at that mark with 11 points, and with her absence the Lady Rebels would have to find a way to spark their offense. And they did just that, as playing for their fallen floor leader, the Lady Rebels ended the third quarter on a 14-5 run. Paris Strawther helped key the run with five straight points, while her trey with 11 seconds in the quarter put UNLV ahead 48-45.

UNLV kept the run going in the fourth quarter, scoring seven of the first eight points, with five coming from Dakota Gonzalez, to go ahead 55-46 with 7:12 to play. After OSU ran off six straight, Strawther was fouled after converting a layup. She missed the free throw but still put UNLV ahead 57-52. That would be the final field goal of the game for the Lady Rebels. Oregon State would slowly cut into the lead, and was greatly helped by a pair of missed fast break layups following steals by the Lady Rebels. The Beavers tied the game off a pair of Breanna Brown free throws with 47 seconds left, and following a missed UNLV three-point try, the Lady Rebels were called for a foul in the backcourt, sending Gabrielle Hanson to the line. She made one of two to put OSU ahead 60-59 with 24 seconds to play. UNLV then turned the ball over, and Mikayla Pivec hit two at the line for a 62-59 lead. UNLV had one last chance but a three-point attempt from Brooke Johnson was off the mark.

The Lady Rebels would lead 13-6 in the first quarter before Oregon State closed on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 15-15 after the opening 10 minutes. The Beavers couldn't miss in the second quarter, knocking in 9-of-13 from the floor for 69.2% shooting. They would lead by 10 twice, the last at 35-25, until the UNLV defense stepped up to hold them scoreless over the final three minutes. Strawther added a layup in the final minute to account for a 35-27 halftime deficit.

UNLV finished the night shooting 33.8% (22-of-65) from the floor, was 6-of-17 from three-point range (35.3%) and 9-of-15 at the line for 60%. The Lady Rebels were outrebounded for the first time this year by a 39-31 margin, but did force 22 turnovers off 12 steals, and turned that into an 18-10 edge on points off turnovers. Dakota Gonzalez led UNLV with 16 points and five steals, while Strawther added 14 and Wheatley 11.

Oregon State was paced by Sydney Wiese with a game-high 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Marie Gulich posted 12 and Brown 11. The Beavers shot 48.8% (20-of-41) for the game, were 5-of-17 from three-point range for 29.4% and 17-of-22 at the line for 77.3%.