LARAMIE, Wyoming (UNLVRebels.com) - @UNLVLadyRebels | UNLV Box Score

In a matchup of the top two teams in the Mountain West, Wyoming took control early thanks to a scorching hot performance from three-point range in the first half on the way to a 68-56 victory over UNLV Saturday afternoon at Arena Auditorium. The Cowgirls hit 12-of-15 from behind the arc over the first two quarters for a 44-24 lead, and held off a fourth quarter rally to snap the Lady Rebels' four-game win streak. Both teams are now tied for first place in the conference standings at 9-3, though Wyoming would hold the tiebreaker if the teams end the regular season tie as this is the only meeting of the regular season between the two.

UNLV won nearly all the speciality stats, with a 26-14 edge on points in the paint, 17-13 on points off turnovers, and 10-1 on second-chance points. The Lady Rebels also outscored Wyoming by 10 at the free throw line after connecting on 19-of-24 for the afternoon. That wasn't enough to overcome the Cowgirls' huge advantage from three-point range however, as UNLV finished the game with just three three-point field goals. Wyoming meanwhile finished 14-of-24 from downtown, giving them a 42-9 advantage on points from three-point range.

The game was tied just once, at 2-2. Wyoming then hit a three-pointer to start a 16-2 run over the next a four-minute span, and would go 4-for-4 from three-point range during that stretch. The Cowgirls added a sixth trey to close out the first quarter with a 26-14 edge. UNLV would play better in the second half, holding the Cowgirls to just 25 total points, including only seven in the fourth while UNLV would score 17. The Lady Rebels made it a close game in the final quarter thanks to a 12-1 run to close within 66-55 with 3:10 to play. UNLV then had two chances to close within single digits but missed both shots, and Wyoming would make three of four free throws to close out the victory.

LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Junior guard Nikki Wheatley posted 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting and added four steals.

STAT OF THE GAME: Four Wyoming players hit three three-pointers each on the afternoon.

QUOTABLE:
"We told the team we wanted to pressure the arc and make them put it on the floor, but they are active and got easy looks, and if they get easy looks they are going to score. We're a competitive group, Brooke has been sick for 4-5 days now and we ask so much of her, it's hard to watch her out there when she's suffering so much. Nikki played great, she was attacking on offense."
- UNLV head coach Kathy Olivier

LADY REBEL NOTES:
* Joining Wheatley in double-figures was Katie Powell with 13 and Paris Strawther with 12.
* UNLV has now lost its last six straight games in Laramie.
* Brooke Johnson had two steals to move into sixth place all-time at UNLV with 233 career steals.

NEXT FOR THE LADY REBELS: UNLV is on the road again with a Valentine's Day contest at Air Force Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 6 pm (PT) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.