Jan. 17, 2018 Box Score
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) - @UNLVLadyRebels | UNLV Box ScoreUNLV rallied from a 14-point first quarter deficit and snapped New Mexico's 13-game home win streak with a 68-66 victory over the Lobos Wednesday night in Mountain West women's basketball action from The Pit. With their fourth straight win, the Lady Rebels (9-7 overall) moved back into a tie for first place in the MW at 4-1, while UNM dropped to 16-4 and 4-3 in the conference after suffering its first home loss of the season. The 13-game win streak at home for the Lobos had been tied for the ninth longest active streak in the nation entering the contest.
New Mexico jumped out to a blistering start, hitting seven of its first 13 shots, including four of its first eight from behind the arc, to open up a 20-6 advantage at the 3:36 mark of the first quarter. UNLV would not panic though, and helped by a pair of Brooke Johnson treys, would close within 27-18 at the end of the first quarter.
UNLV slowly chopped away at the deficit in the second quarter, cutting the edge to just two twice, the last at 32-30 at the 6:37 mark. New Mexico scored eight straight to go back up by 10, 40-30 with 3:52 to play in the second quarter.
THE TURNING POINT: New Mexico made its first two shots of the third quarter for a 44-35 lead at the 9:11 mark. UNLV then shut down the Lobos on offense, forcing the home team into 10 straight missed shots from the floor. UNM would turn the ball over four times as well, and UNLV took advantage by posting a 21-3 run, allowing only three free throws over a 8:23 span. UNLV took its first lead of the night on a three-pointer by Paris Strawther for a 47-46 edge, and had its largest lead of the night at 56-47 on a Katie Powell layup at 1:12 in the third quarter.
LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Making her return to the court after missing the previous six contests with an injury, junior point guard Nikki Wheatley posted 13 points along with team-highs in rebounds with nine and assists with seven.
STAT OF THE GAME: New Mexico made seven of its first 13 attempts from three-point range, but connected on just three of its final 20 attempts, including a 3-18 performance in the second half.
QUOTABLE:
"At the half we said we were not playing well, yet we were only down eight, they seemed to be hitting everything in the first quarter. We chipped away though and I can't say enough about our overall team effort and togetherness that allowed us to win this game. Nikki Whealtley, to come in after a month out and have the night she had, she did a great job, as did Brooke and Katie. I could just go on and one, we had so many different people step up tonight."
- UNLV head coach Kathy Olivier
LADY REBEL NOTES:
* UNM trailed the entire fourth quarter, but came within three points with 2:33 to play on a Cherise Beynon three-pointer. That was the last basket of the game for the Lobos, who were forced into three missed three-point shots, while Jordyn Bell forced a jump ball on a key possession in the final 34 seconds and UNLV up three.
* UNLV has won six of its last eight games in The Pit, including its past two.
* The Lady Rebels have won four straight against the Lobos overall and lead the all-time series 34-23.
* UNLV held a 28-22 edge on points in the paint, and won the rebounding battle 41-35.
* Also in double-figures for UNLV was Johnson with 19 and Powell with 18 and seven rebounds.
* UNLV is 4-1 to start MW play for the first time since the 2013-14 squad began its league schedule at 5-1.
NEXT FOR THE LADY REBELS: UNLV is back home for a Saturday, Jan. 24 contest against Colorado State at 3 pm in the Cox Pavilion. Saturday is Rebel Kids Club Day for the Lady Rebels, and there will be a KID ZONE with bounce houses and other activities on the Cox Pavilion concourse starting at 2 pm. There is also a free pre-game basketball clinic that will be run by the team from 1-2:15 pm in the Mendenhall Center, open to boys and girls in grades 2-8. Registration is available for the clinic at unlvwomensbasketballcamps.com, and all clinic participants receive free admission to the contest.
Single game ticket prices for the Lady Rebels this season are $8 for adults, $5 if bought online at UNLVTickets.com, while kids 12 and under are free at all UNLV Lady Rebel home contests.
