LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV senior guard Nikki Wheatley scored a game-high 19 on her Senior Night to lead the Lady Rebels to a 60-45 victory over Colorado State in the regular season finale for both teams in Mountain West women's basketball action Thursday night from the Cox Pavilion. The Lady Rebels (12-17, 10-8 MW) overcame a slow start by outscoring the Rams 50-34 over the final three quarters for the victory, it's largest over CSU in 13 years.

Wheatley wasn't the only senior scoring for UNLV, as the Lady Rebel senior class combined for 36 of the team's 60 points. Paris Strawther (seven points), Alyssa Anderson (five) and Jordyn Bell (three) all were in the starting lineup for UNLV, along with center Katie Powell, who played just two minutes at the start of the contest. Destiney Lee, the sixth lady Rebel senior, came off the bench and made her only shot of the game in the fourth quarter for two points.

Though UNLV held the Rams to just 27% shooting in the first quarter, CSU did hit three treys to open an 11-10 edge at the end of the quarter. An 8-0 run for UNLV, which featured back-to-back three-pointers from freshman Justice Ethridge, gave the lead back to UNLV for good at 18-15. CSU kept it close the rest of the half though, and went into halftime down just 23-21.

THE TURNING POINT: After CSU opened the third quarter with a free throw to close the edge to just one, UNLV reeled off the game's next nine points. Seven of the nine points came from Wheatley, including a three-pointer while her jumper put UNLV ahead 32-22 at the 6:48 mark. The Lady Rebels allowed just two shot attempts from the Rams in the first five minutes as well while forcing a pair of shot clock violations. CSU came no closer then seven points in the third quarter, while UNLV eventually extended the lead to as high as 17, 52-35 at the 7:07 mark of the fourth quarter.

STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV nearly doubled the Rams on the boards, with a 41-21 advantage, including 17-3 on the offensive side.

LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Wheatley finished the game hitting 8-of-20 from the floor and posted her first career multi-three-point game by making two of three from three-point range. She also added four rebounds, two assists and a steal.

QUOTABLE: "The fans did a great job tonight in coming out to support us, the seniors played great tonight, we got great production off the bench. What a great game and win to get on our Senior Night."
- UNLV head coach Kathy Olivier 

LADY REBEL NOTES: 
* UNLV has reached double-digit wins in MW play in each of the past three seasons, a feat only matched in the conference by Boise State.
* This was just the second win for UNLV over the Rams in 11 contests.
* UNLV's 15-point win over CSU marked the largest win margin since a 74-57 victory on Feb. 18, 2006 in Las Vegas.
* The Rams were held to just 31.6% shooting for the game (12-of-38), though they did make 7-of-16 from behind the arc (43.8%).
* UNLV finished 22-of-55 from the floor for 40%, and made 8-of-17 from three-point range (47.1%). The eight-made three-pointers tied a season-high.
* Also finishing in double-figures for UNLV was Rodjanae Wade with 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
* Ethridge finished with a season-high tying three treys off the bench for nine points.
* UNLV also held commanding advantages on second chance points (20-4) and bench points (26-10).
* Wheatly moved into 15th place all-time in career scoring with 1,331 points, passing Kathie Calloway (1979-82).
* Wheatley moved into 10th place all-time in career rebounding with 697, passing Teresa Jackson (1989-93).
* Thursday marked Wheatley's 117th career start, tying her for third all-time along with Sequoia Holmes (2005-08).
* The Lady Rebels are 11-5 when holding teams under 60 points this season. * The win improved the Lady Rebels record to 29-7 at home in MW play over the past four seasons.

NEXT TIME OUT: The Lady Rebels will open play in the 2019 Mountain West Championships, which runs Sunday-Wednesday, March 10-13 in the Thomas & Mack Center.