LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -  After holding Virginia to a season-low five points in the first quarter, UNLV was outscored by 21 over the next two quarters before rallying in the fourth to close within seven before eventually falling to the Cavaliers 63-55 Friday afternoon in the second game of the Duel In The Desert women's basketball tournament, held at the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels will now play USF in Saturday's third place game at 12 pm, while Virginia will face Mississippi State at 2:30 pm.

UNLV allowed just two UVA field goals in the first quarter on the way to an 11-5 lead, but was then held to just two points in the first seven minutes of the second quarter. The Cavs outscored UNLV 15-2 during the stretch for a 20-13 advantage, though the Lady Rebs closed within 26-23 at the halftime break.

THE TURNING POINT: Virginia opened the third quarter with 14 unanswered points, and took its largest lead of the game, 40-23 with 4:48 to play in the quarter. The lead was still at 17, 51-34 with 7:47 left before UNLV reeled off 21 of the game's next 32 points. That brought UNLV within seven, 62-55 with 16 seconds to go, before UVA made one of two at the line to account for the final score.

STATS OF THE GAME: The Cavs made 14-of-26 from the floor over the second and third quarter (53.8%). UVA also held a 41-35 edge on the boards, though second chance points was in favor of UNLV 14-11.

LADY REBEL NOTES

* - Haley Rydalch scored all 10 of her points in the first half to keep UNLV in the game, off 4-of-8 shooting. She also added five rebounds.

* - Justice Ethridge was next with eight points, tied with freshman Jacinta Buckley who set a new career-high off the bench.

* - UNLV was held to 27.7% (18-of-65) from the floor.

* - Against the taller Virginia defense, UNLV took a season-high 34 three-point attempts, making eight of them for a 23.5% performance.

* - Freshman and Las Vegas native Melanie Isbell earned her first career start and scored four points.