TUCSON, ARIZONA (UNLVRebels.com) -  The UNLV women's golf team had a strong first day Monday at the Wildcat Invitational at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona. After two rounds, the Rebels sit in a tie for first with Iowa State at 18-over, while senior Elizabeth Prior, who's already won two tournaments this spring, is alone atop the leaderboard at 3-under (141).

The Rebels were in sixth place after round one, then shot the best team score of round two to jump up to the tie in the top spot. Prior held second after the first 18 holes, then took the lead in round two and will enter Tuesday's final round with a two-shot lead.

Sophomore Polly Mack also sits in the top 10 in a tie for seventh after carding a 2-over 146. Freshman Veronica Joels is in a tie for 48th at 11-over (155), followed by senior Shannon Oh in a tie for 54th at 13-over (157) and sophomore Cathy Liu in a tie for 61st at 14-over (158). Senior Alyssa Getty, playing as an individual, is in 89th at 24-over (168).

Rounding out the top five behind UNLV and Iowa State is tournament host Arizona in third at 19-over (595), Oregon in fourth at 23-over (599) and Arizona State in fifth at 24-over (600).

REBEL OF THE DAY: Prior carded rounds of 69 and 72 Monday to gain a two-shot lead. She now has four rounds of 69 or better this spring.

NEXT UP FOR THE REBELS: The final round will get underway Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. MT.

REBEL SCORES:

• T1st - UNLV – (296-298 -- 594, +18)
• 1st – Elizabeth Prior, senior (69-72 -- 141, -3)
• T7th – Polly Mack, sophomore (75-71 -- 146 , +2)
• T48th – Veronica Joels, freshman (80-75 -- 155, +11)
• T54th – Shannon Oh, senior (77-80 -- 157 , +13)
• T61st – Cathy Liu, sophomore (75-83 -- 158, +14)
• 89th – Alyssa Getty, senior (77-91 -- 168, +24)*

*Playing as an individual

TOP FIVE TEAMS 
T1. UNLV (296-298 - 594, +18)
 
T1. Iowa State (287-307 -- 594, +18)
3. Arizona (293-302 -- 595, +19)
4. Oregon (291-308 -- 599, +23)
5. ArizonaState (287-313 -- 600, +24)

REBEL NOTES: 

• The Rebels finished second at their second annual Rebel Beach Invitational at Spanish Trail Country Club in February, which is co-hosted by Long Beach State. Prior blew out the field with a seven-shot victory for her second straight tournament win
• The Rebels opened the spring with a team win at the Battle of Boulder Creek, with Prior and Mack tying for medalist honors
• Prior and Mack were named Co-Mountain West Women's Golfers of the Week after their win at Boulder Creek, then Prior earned it a second consecutive week after her win at Rebel Beach
• Last spring, the Rebels won three consecutive MW titles for the first time since they won three in a row from 2004-06
• UNLV has won four conference championships in seven years under head coach Amy Bush-Herzer