LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -  Seniors Rodjanae Wade and LaTecia Smith combined for 41 points, including eight during UNLV's 13-0 game-ending run as the Lady Rebels won their fifth straight game Saturday, 65-53 over the Wyoming Cowgirls in Mountain West action from the Cox Pavilion. With their first win over Wyoming since the 2017 season, UNLV has moved into third place in the MW at 4-1 (8-8 overall), just half a game behind second-place San Jose State (5-1). The Cowgirls dropped to 7-8, 3-3 in the MW with the loss.

The Lady Rebels held an early 6-3 lead, until Wyoming hit four-of-eight from three-point on the way to a 20-16 first quarter advantage. Both teams scored 10 each in the third, leaving the Cowgirls up 30-26 at the break.

THE TURNING POINT: Wyoming extended its lead to 34-28 with 7:20 to play in the third. Wade then ignited a 9-0 run with a jumper, while her layup at 3:27 gave UNLV its first lead since the opening minutes, 35-34. Justice Ethridge added on a pair of free throws, to put the Lady Rebels up 37-34 with 2:23 to play, and 44-39 to end the third quarter. Wyoming did gain the lead back three times in the fourth quarter, but only be a single point each time.

FINAL FOUR MINUTES: The lead switched hands six times in the fourth quarter, with Wyoming going up 53-52 with 3:27 to play. Those were the last points for the Cowgirls, as UNLV scored 13 answered to close out the win. Freshman Isis Beh converted a pair of free throws to give UNLV the lead for good, while the Cowgirls were forced into four missed field goals, and zero offensive rebounds during the game-ending stretch. Wyoming also turned the ball over four times in the final minutes, leading to eight UNLV points.

LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Wade notched her fourth straight double-double and ninth of the season with game-highs of 22 points (10-of-17 shooting) and 10 rebounds. She also added a pair of steals in the win. 

STAT OF THE GAME: In the deciding fourth quarter, both teams shot 6-of-13 from the floor and 1-for-5 from three-point range. UNLV however was 8-for-8 at the free throw line, while Wyoming only made one trip (1-1).

LADY REBEL NOTES

* - Joining Wade in double-figure scoring was Smith with 19 points off 6-11 shooting. She also added five assists.

* - Giving UNLV a spark in the first half was sophomore Kambrayia Elzy, who easily topped her previous career-high of four points after knocking down 4-of-6, including her first career three-pointer, for nine points in the game.

* - UNLV shot 44.2% (23-of-52) for the game from the field, and made a season-high 93.8% (15-of-16) at the free throw line.

* - Combined with its big fourth quarter rally Wednesday against Boise State, UNLV has ended its last two games on a combined 28-3 run.

* - UNLV's five-game win streak is its longest since January of 2017, when the Lady Rebels posted win streaks of four and five games on the way to the 2017-18 regular season title.

NEXT TIME OUT: UNLV will play its next two on the road, starting with a showdown Wednesday, Jan. 15 against second place San Jose State at 7 pm.