LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — Sophomore center Desi-Rae Young scored a career-high 24 points as UNLV overcame a 19-point deficit to knock off Pacific 80-79 at the Cox Pavilion Saturday.

The Lady Rebels trailed 52-33 one minute into the third period and used a 19-6 run, highlighted by 8 points from Young, to cut Pacific's lead to 3. 

"At halftime, we talked about doing the things we can control—playing hard, playing together and talking," UNLV head women's basketball coach Lindy La Rocque said. "We were totally out of sync in the first half."

Young made 10 of 17 field goal attempts and added nine rebounds as she carried the Lady Rebels for two and a half periods before her team found its offensive groove.

Jade Thomas came off the bench to bookend a two-minute, 10-0 scoring run, with a 3 and a layup off Pacific turnover. 

"In those moments," La Rocque said, "we're trying to put people in positions that will give us success. Jade has had a slight change in role, but I trust her to do her job. She was aggressive. She was locked in. So I think (the comeback) kind of started with her."

UNLV carried the momentum through the fourth quarter as Essence Booker ignited an 11-0 run with a fast-break 3-pointer, followed by a Justice Ethridge steal that assisted Nneka Obiazor's game-tying layup. The Tigers missed two straight layups before Khayla Rooks found Alyssa Durazo-Frescas wide open for 3 to give UNLV its first lead of the game, 69-66, with 8 minutes remaining.

Ethridge capped the scoring streak by drawing a foul on a layup to convert a 3-point play.

Pacific retook the lead with 2-1/2 minutes remaining, but Booker drew a foul, collected on two free throws, then forced a turnover and drained a jumper for the go-ahead and game-winning buckets. 

It was the third largest comeback in UNLV's history.

Booker had 9 fourth-quarter points and finished with 15 total.

Pacific had a final attempt but Rosie Schweizer's layup rolled over the rim and the Tigers mishandled the rebound to run out the clock.

Pacific's Sam Ashby scored a game-high 31 points. Ashby was 10 of 13 from the field and made seven of eight 3-point attempts.

"We had to grit our teeth and show some toughness," La Rocque said. "I'm proud of having that fight, but frankly, that's what we should have from the beginning."

UNLV next hosts Hawaii for its final pre-conference game on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at the Cox Pavilion.