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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -  UNLV used a strong defensive performance and three-point shooting to open up a seven-point third quarter lead over Duke, but the Blue Devils broke open a tie game in the fourth with back-to-back treys on the way to a 57-45 victory over the Lady Rebels Thursday night in women's college basketball action from the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Lady Rebels held Duke to just eight points in the first eight minutes of the game before the Blue Devils scored five straight to make it a 13-13 game going into the second quarter. The second quarter was back and forth until a pair of Lady Rebel freshmen, Jacinta Buckley and Anna Blount, scored a pair of baskets to put UNLV ahead 24-21 at the halftime break.

UNLV came out firing in the third quarter as Kavionnia Brown hit back-to-back treys for a 30-23 Lady Rebel edge, their largest of the night. It was 36-30 with 4:56 to play and then Duke held UNLV scoreless the rest of the quarter to go ahead by one. The lead changed hands twice in the fourth quarter, and was tied at 41-41 on Haley Rydalch's free throw with six minutes to play. Duke then hit a pair of threes for a 47-41 lead, and added another at the 2:23 mark for a 50-43 advantage that essentially sealed the win.

KEY STAT: Duke was 16-of-24 at the free throw line for 67%, while UNLV was only awarded four total free throws in the game (2-of-4).

LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Brown, a redshirt sophomore, finished with new career-highs in points with 11 and three-pointers made with three.

NEXT UP: UNLV will be on the road for a Tuesday, Nov. 19 contest at Southern Utah in Cedar City. The game will tip-off at 5:30 pm (PT).