Box Score

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UNLV scored the first six points of overtime to escape with a 73-67 victory over San Diego State Saturday afternoon in Mountain West women's basketball action from the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels overcame a poor day at the free throw line to improve to 16-9 overall, and remain in first place in the conference at 11-3.

SDSU (10-15 overall, 4-10) nearly pulled off the road upset in regulation after trailing by seven points with under two minutes to play. The Aztecs scored seven straight on three straight possessions to tie the game at 59-59 on a pair of free throws. SDSU then forced a turnover after a missed UNLV shot, giving the Aztecs a chance at the last shot. McKynzie Fort drove down the lane in the final seconds and lost control of the ball on a shot attempt, grabbed the ball back and then hit a five-footer, but video replay showed the ball was still in her hand when the clock hit zero, sending the game to extra time.

After a back-and-forth first quarter, UNLV opened up a 13-point lead, 28-15 in the second quarter. SDSU climbed back into the contest with a 15-4 run, which featured four three-pointers, and one four-point play. The fourth trey, with three seconds to go in the half, make it a 32-30 contest in favor of UNLV. The Aztecs would take the lead back after three quarters at 48-47.

THE TURNING POINT: SDSU actually held a three-point lead in the fourth quarter after a short jumper with 8:52 on the clock for a 50-47 edge. UNLV then reeled off the next nine points of the game. Four different Lady Rebels all converted on layups, and the Aztecs were held without a point for a 6:19 span. The early fourth quarter lead for the Aztecs was their last of the game.

LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Junior forward Jordyn Bell opened overtime with her second trey of the game, which gave UNLV the lead for good. She finished with eight points, nine rebounds and three assists in the contest.



STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV won for the first time this year when losing the rebounding battle, as the top rebounding team in the conference lost the battle of the boards 41-37. That helped SDSU to a 12-9 edge on second chance points.

LADY REBEL NOTES:
* Katie Powell followed Bell's trey in overtime with three free throws for a six-point UNLV lead.
* UNLV made 8-of-12 at the free throw line in overtime.
* After shooting nearly 50% in the first half, UNLV was held below 40% in both the third and fourth quarters.
* Powell paced UNLV with 18 points, while Brooke Johnson added 17 points and seven assists. Nikki Wheatley also finished in double-figures with 13 points.
* UNLV earned its third season sweep of a MW opponent this season, and second over the Aztecs in the past three years.
* UNLV is 2-0 in overtime games this season.
* Johnson moved into a tie for eighth place in career assists at UNLV with 358, along with Linda Frohlich (1998-02).

NEXT FOR THE LADY REBELS: UNLV is on the road for a Wednesday, Feb. 21 contest at Fresno State with a 7 pm start in the Save Mart Center.