LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) —
Essence Booker hit six free throws in the final 25 seconds as the Lady Rebels held off Wyoming 66-60 Friday at the Cox Pavilion.
UNLV (10-4, 2-0 Mountain West) capitalized on 19 of 21 free throw attempts, by far its best performance this season. They needed every one to stall Wyoming's (5-6, 1-1) rally from a 17-point third quarter deficit as they closed within 2 with less than a minute left.
"That's conference play," UNLV head women's basketball coach
Lindy La Rocque said. "You have to expect that when we go on a run, they're going to battle back with a run.
"I'm proud of our group for making some tough free throws down the stretch. If not for every one of those, it could have been a very different outcome."
The Lady Rebels jumped to an 11-0 lead from tip off and shackled the Cowgirls' offense in the first half. Wyoming was held to 32 percent shooting and just one of 10 3-pointers over the first 20 minutes.Â
UNLV forced 21 turnovers from a team that entered the game averaging 11.8, the 10th best mark in the nation.
"They are so methodical in their offense. We were trying to manufacture some ways to speed them up and pressure them. I think we had some success at that early and we caught them off guard."
Justice Ethridge scored 7 of her 9 points in the first half with two periods of perfect shooting. Ethridge swished a 3 to complete UNLV's scoring streak and six turns later stripped Emily Mellema's drive to the hoop for a fast-break layup of her own.
UNLV led 29-19 at halftime. The Lady Rebels outscored the Cowgirls 21-20 in the third period.
But Wyoming didn't go away without a fight. Grace Ellis atoned for her shooting foul on
Desi-Rae Young, whose makes put UNLV up 17, by burying a 3 on the next possession. Quinn Weidemann drew back-to-back fouls to add four more points at the line and spark a 14-3 run.
Booker floated a bucket over three defenders, then dished a baseline inbounds to Young under the hoop for 2 more. Wyoming's Paula Salazar responded with a 3, but
Khayla Rooks found Young on a back cut for an and-1 that gave UNLV a 10-point cushion with just under six minutes remaining.
Wyoming forced its way into the paint and reached the free throw line three times in a 60-second span to trail 60-58 with 30 seconds to play. Ola Ustowska's 3-point attempt sailed long as the shot clock expired and Wyoming was forced to foul UNLV, with Booker sealing the victory at the charity stripe.
Booker finished with a team-leading 16 points and five assists. She was 8-for-8 on free throws.
Young scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Nneka Obiazor came off the bench for 10 points, extending her streak of scoring in double figures in every home game.
UNLV turns its attention to New Mexico (10-4, 1-0) for a Monday night game at The Pit in Albuquerque. The Lobos won 72-68 at Boise State Friday after postponing its scheduled Mountain West opener versus San Jose State due to COVID-19 protocols.
START ME UP: UNLV's 10-3 start is its best in 10 seasons since also beginning the 2011-12 season 10-3. That Lady Rebels team finished with a 22-10 overall and 10-4 record against the Mountain West.
WIN, LOSE OR DRAW: Wyoming entered the game leading all NCAA Division I teams in fewest fouls, committing just 11 per game. UNLV drew 16 fouls with
Desi-Rae Young accounting for eight.
NO SECOND CHANCES: Every possession mattered. UNLV and Wyoming managed just 11 combined offensive rebounds and counted only six total second-chance points.
NEXT HOME GAME: The Lady Rebels return home Jan. 13 to host Boise State for Nickelodeon Night at the Cox Pavilion. Tip off is 6:30 p.m.
