ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) -  UNLV ended the first quarter on a 9-0 run and kept it going in the second, using a 29-6 run to take control on the way to a record-setting 68-51 victory at The Pit over New Mexico Saturday afternoon in Mountain West women's basketball action. With the win, their sixth in the last seven games, the Lady Rebels improved to 9-9 overall, 5-2 in MW play, while the Lobos, who were held to 27 points under their season average, dropped to 11-9 for the year (2-5 in the conference).

 

FINAL SCORE: Thanks to a 29-6 first half run, UNLV claims its largest win EVER in The Pit as the Lady Rebels cruise past the Lobos 68-51. Justice Ethridge was on 🔥 as she scored a career-high 22 points!! #unlvwbb #BEaREBEL pic.twitter.com/U8KdQ0wsTV

— UNLV Lady Rebels (@UNLVLadyRebels) January 18, 2020

The Lady Rebels turned in a completely smothering defensive effort, as they held the Lobos to 25% shooting or under in three of the four quarters. For the game, New Mexico shot 26.7% (16-of-60), and made just three-of-26 from three-point range (11.5%). That helped offset UNLV's -10 turnover margin in the game.

THE TURNING POINT: New Mexico held the lead for the majority of the opening quarter, and went up 14-12 on a jumper in the paint with 1:52 to play in the first. UNLV then closed the period with nine answered points, as four different Lady Rebels scored to put UNLV ahead 21-14. The Lobos scored the first four points of the second quarter and then it was all UNLV, as the Lady Rebels went on a 20-3 run over a six-minute span. A steal and layup from LaTecia Smith gave UNLV its largest lead of the game at 41-20 with 50 seconds left in the half. The Lobos managed to close within 11 once in the third and 13 points in the fourth but UNLV never gave up its double-digit advantage.

LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Sophomore Justice Ethridge turned in a career game for UNLV, reaching the 20+ point mark for the first time with a game-high 22 off 8-of-14 shooting. That including knocking down a career-best five three-pointers (out of nine attempts)..

STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV more than doubled up the Lobos on the boards, with a 58-28 overall rebounding margin. 

LADY REBEL NOTES

* - Senior Rodjanae Wade notched her league-leading 11th double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

* - Also in double-figures was freshman Isis Beh with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting off the bench. UNLV would outscore the Lobos 36-27 in total bench points in the game.

* - Smith finished with nine points, nine rebounds, three assists and five steals.

* - UNLV shot 50% (8-of-16) from three-point range for the game.

* - UNLV claimed it seventh win in the past eight meetings over the Lobos, and first in Albuquerque since the 2017-18 season.

* - UNLV's 41 first half points was a season-high.

* - UNLV's 17-point win margin was its largest ever over the Lobos in Albuquerque, topping the 15-point win (70-55) on Feb. 17, 1980.

* - The 17-point win margin is also the largest win margin in MW play for UNLV this season.

NEXT TIME OUT: UNLV hosts UNR for the first time this season, and the first meeting in the Silver State Series as the teams will face off Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 6 pm in the Cox Pavilion. The game is also the Lady Rebels' Code Red game for the season, and all fans are encouraged to wear Red to the contest.