LOGAN, Utah (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV opened the New Year with a slow start but roared back in the second quarter to grab the lead for good, while senior Rodjanae Wade posted new career-highs in both points (27) and rebounds (15) to lead the Lady Rebels to a 60-46 road victory at Utah State Wednesday in Mountain West conference women's basketball action.
Not much went right for UNLV on offense in the first quarter, as the Lady Rebels started out missing five of their first six shots while turning the ball over six times. UNLV ended the quarter just 1-of-11 form the floor, while the Aggies drained a trey at the buzzer to go ahead 13-5. USU would lead 15-5 early in the second before Wade started a 10-0 run, and tied the game on a layup at 15-15. Utah State answered back however with six unanswered points of their own to go up 21-15.
THE TURNING POINT: LaTecia Smith came up with steals on back-to-back possessions late in the second quarter, leading to a three-pointer by Bailey Thomas and a layup by Smith herself. She then ended the half with a three-pointer at the buzzer for an 8-0 run to put UNLV ahead 23-21 going into the break. UNLV kept it going at the start of the third, scoring 14 of the first 19 points for a combined 22-5 spurt. Bailey Thomas' second three of the game capped the run, giving UNLV a 37-26 advantage with 3:05 to play in the third.
LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Wade led all players in both points and rebounds, and she finished 9-of-15 from the floor and 9-of-14 at the line while posting her league-leading sixth double-double of the season.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV outscored Utah State 32-18 in the paint and 18-8 on second chance points.
LADY REBEL NOTES
* - Joining Wade in double-figures was native Haley Rydalch with 10 points and four rebounds.
* - After shooting 9% in the first quarter, UNLV made 20 of its next 43 shots and finished 21-of-54 for 38.9%.
* - Freshman Melanie Isbell, a Las Vegas native making her third career start, posted a career-high six assists against just two turnovers.
* - Utah State was held to a season-low tying 46 points. The other time this year it was held to 46 points was in a loss to then No. 4 Oregon State.
NEXT TIME OUT: UNLV will play a second straight road contest when it faces the Air Force Falcons in Colorado Springs, Colorado in a 1 pm contest Saturday, Jan. 4.
