LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -  Almost exactly one month after it was held to a season-low 38 points at San Diego State, UNLV exploded for 72 points while senior Rodjanae Wade recorded her 18th double-double of the season to lead the Lady Rebels past San Diego State 72-67 Saturday afternoon in Mountain West women's basketball action from the Cox Pavilion. The 72 points is the most scored in a conference game for UNLV this season and the most in regulation of any game as well.

UNLV improved to 13-14 overall and 9-7 in league play with the victory to remain alone in fifth place in the league. The Lady Rebels have a two-game lead for the final first-round bye in next month's MW Tournament with two games left to play, while the Aztecs dropped to 12-16, 7-9 in the conference.

Though the Aztecs only led for 2:26 in the contest, UNLV could never put away the visitors, despite grabbing a 10-point edge, 31-21, thanks to a 16-3 run to open the second quarter. UNLV ended the first half with a 35-30 advantage, and pushed its advantage to nine, 58-49 entering the final quarter. 

THE TURNING POINT: UNLV led 66-57 when the Aztecs went on an 8-0 run, fueled by a three-pointer and a three-point play, and closed with 66-65 with 3:16 to play. UNLV would go back up three thanks to a layup from Wade with 2:05 to play, and following a pair of SDSU free throws to make it a 68-67 game with 39 seconds left, Wade was able to draw a foul with 22 seconds to go. That gave UNLV a reset of the shot clock, forcing SDSU to foul, and freshman Melanie Isbell sank a pair of free throws with 16 seconds on the clock for a 70-67 lead. UNLV did not allow a potential tying shot on the other end, as Bailey Thomas came up with a steal with three seconds left, and hit a pair of free throws to account for the final five-point margin.

LADY REBEL OF THE GAME: Wade had a monster game on the boards, grabbing a career-high 18 rebounds, including 13 on the offensive side. She came into the afternoon ranked second in the nation with 5.0 offensive boards per game. She also added 15 points to complete the doubled-double.

STAT OF THE GAME: The Lady Rebels dominated inside, with a commanding 46-28 edge on points in the paint, and an 18-6 advantage on offensive rebounds, which led to 16 second chance points (to just five for the Aztecs).  

QUOTEABLE: "We had this extreme focus at the end, we spaced better on offense and we just moved the ball better today, RJ has been on a tear recently. Melanie (Isbell) made some big free throws, Bailey (Thomas) had amazing defense, everyone has been stepping up and that's what we need to have happen to win.." - UNLV head coach Kathy Olivier 

LADY REBEL NOTES

* - Wade is now tied for third at UNLV for most double-doubles in a season with 18, which is also just three off the conference record of 21.

* - The Lady Rebels nearly had five players score in double-figures, as LaTecia Smith led the team with 17, while Bailey Thomas added 12 and Justice Ethridge 11. Isbell posted nine points for UNLV off the bench.

* - UNLV shot 40.8% (29-of-71) for the game, was 2-of-14 (14.3%) from three-point range and made 12-of-15 at the line for 80%.

* - The win improved the Lady Rebels record to 35-9 at home in MW play over the past five seasons.

* - UNLV has surpassed last year win's total with two games left in the regular season.

* - UNLV's previous high in a conference game this year was against Utah State in a 69-45 win on Feb. 5, while the Lady Rebels topped St. John's 79-75 in overtime back on Dec. 1.

NEXT TIME OUT: UNLV will play its final road game of the conference season Monday with a 6 pm tip-off at Boise State.