LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's golf team finished ninth at the third annual Rebel Beach Invitational Tuesday at Spanish Trail Golf Club. The event is co-hosted by the Rebels and Long Beach State.

As a team UNLV carded a three-round score of 34-over (898) after shooting a 16-over (304) in the final round. Rebel junior Samantha Fuller saved her best round for last as she shot a 2-under 70 Tuesday to finish the tournament with the same score in sixth place. Fuller had entered the day at even with back-to-back rounds of 72 Monday. 

Sophomore Veronica Joels was the next highest finisher for UNLV, tying for 28th at 9-over (225), followed by freshman Elina Saksa in a tie for 39th at 12-over (228). Fellow freshmen Aliyah Williams, playing as an individual, finished in a tie for 43rd at 14-over (230), while Dana Puyol and Tori James each finished in a tie for 49th at 17-over (233). Rounding things out were juniors Luka van der Merwe in 60th at 20-over (236) and Cathy Liu in 64th at 23-over (239).

With a 14-shot lead entering the final round, No. 3 USC cruised to the tournament victory, finishing at 25-under 839. Fresno State was the next closest at 3-under (861) tp finish second, while third-place New Mexico was 22 shots behind the Bulldogs, coming in third at 19-over 883. BYU and Long Beach State rounded out the top five at 21-over (885) and 22-over (886), respectively.

USC's Gabriela Ruffels was the wire-to-wire individual winner, taking medalist honors at 9-under after rounds of 68, 68 and 71. Teammate Allisen Corpuz finished one stroke behind Ruffels to take second at 8-under followed by Fresno State's Brigitte Thibault in third at 6-under.

STAT OF THE DAY: USC had four of its five golfers place in the top five individually, helping the Trojans win the tournament by 22 strokes.

REBEL OF THE DAY: After sinking seven birdies over the first two rounds, UNLV's Fuller dropped six alone in Tuesday's final round.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will have a quick turnaround as they head to Peoria, Arizona, this weekend for Wisconsin's Westbrooke Invite, February 23 and 24.

NOTABLE:
• This is the third annual Rebel Beach Invitational, co-hosted by UNLV and Long Beach State at Spanish Trail Golf Club
• UNLV has a new look with just two returners from last year's roster. Six new faces have joined the 2019-20 squad.
• Prior to the 2018-19 season, UNLV had won three straight Mountain West titles and made a NCAA postseason appearance in 16 consecutive years.
• Head coach Amy Bush-Herzer is in her ninth year at the helm of the program. She has led her team to a conference championship four times.

-UNLV-