Jan. 25, 2017 LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV - Wyoming PDF Box Score
UNLV junior guard Dylan Gonzalez scored 16 of her career-high 20 points in the first half, while her twin Dakota added 16 to lead the Lady Rebels to a 51-46 upset of first place Wyoming on Wednesday night in Mountain West women's basketball action from the Thomas & Mack Center. The Lady Rebs actually trailed by four with under eight minutes to play, but held the Cowgirls to just one point over the next seven minutes on the way to opening up a seven-point edge with 72 seconds left in the game. With the win, UNLV moved to 14-6 overall, and 5-3 in Mountain West play for sole possession of fourth place. Wyoming meanwhile dropped into a tie for first with Colorado State at 7-1, suffering its first loss in league play after behind held under 50 for the first time this season.
The twins were the story offensively of the first half, combining for all 12 first quarter points and 24 of the team's 26 points over the opening half. Dylan topped her previous career-best in the first half alone, as she knocked down her first seven shots including a pair from three-point range. While the two combined for 36 of UNLV's total 51 points, it was a true team effort in knocking off the Cowgirls. Sophomore center Katie Powell grabbed a career-high tying 14 rebounds, including nine on the defensive side, to go with her six points, while Brooke Johnson, the Mountain West's steals leader, came up with four in the game including one in the final two minutes that lead to the game-clinching fast break layup from Powell.
Just under a month after they lost on the road to the Cowgirls by 22 after falling behind by 13 after the first quarter, Wednesday night saw the Lady Rebels smother Wyoming at the start. The Cowgirls were held to just 16% shooting, 3-19, in the first quarter and trailed 12-8 as Dylan Gonzalez hit all three of her shots including three-pointers from both corners.
Wyoming closed within one three times in the second quarter, the final time on a jumper by Taylor Rush at 6:34 for an 18-17 contest. UNLV closed out the quarter scoring eight of the final nine points, and went up 26-18 on Dylan Gonzalez's seventh basket of the opening half.
UNLV stalled on offense coming out of halftime, while the Cowgirls reeled off a 17-2 run over the first five minutes. The run included three treys from the visitors, with the third at the 4:47 mark from Liv Roberts giving Wyoming its largest lead of the game, 35-28. The Lady Rebels would climb back into the game by scoring five of the final seven points, cutting the deficit to 37-33 going into the fourth quarter.
After a pair of Paris Strawther free throws to close within two, the Cowgirls countered with a layup with 7:49 left in the game for a 39-35 advantage. That would be the final field goal for the Cowgirls until the final minute, as UNLV's defense forced five missed shots and four turnovers. The Lady Rebels tied the game on four straight points from Dakota Gonzalez, while a layup from Jordyn Bell put UNLV ahead for good at 41-39. Powell added a pair of baskets in the final four minutes, as she tipped in an offensive rebound at 3:53 for a 43-40 lead, and then finished off the 12-1 UNLV run with the fast break layup with 1:12 on the clock for a 47-40 advantage. Dakota Gonzalez would hit four-of-four at the line in the final 22 seconds to offset a pair of treys from Wyoming and give UNLV the five-point victory.
UNLV shot 33.3% (20-of-60) for the game and made just 2-of-11 from three-point range (18.2%), but was 9-of-12 at the free throw line (75%). The Lady Rebels held a 41-38 edge on the boards, and forced 14 turnovers, which led to a 16-8 edge on points off turnovers.
Wyoming was paced by Roberts with 15 points and Natalie Baker with 10. The Cowgirls shot 32.1% (17-of-53) from the field, knocked down 6-of-20 from behind the arc for 30% and made 6-of-10 at the free throw line.
UNLV closes out the week with a second straight home game when it hosts National Women and Girls In Sports Day on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Rebels will take on San Jose State at 4 pm in the Cox Pavilion, while prior to the game UNLV will host an all-sports clinic for over 300 kids in the Las Vegas community.
