BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) — The Lady Rebels raced away from the Roadrunners and thwarted their last-gasp sprint to claim a third consecutive wire-to-wire victory.

Desi-Rae Young's career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds powered UNLV's 71-56 win over Cal State Bakersfield (1-5) Sunday at the Icardo Center.

"What most people forget is she's still young," La Rocque said about her all-conference center, "but she does so many things to impact the game. Even when she's on the bench, she's talking, she's encouraging and she's into it—just a great teammate."

UNLV (6-2) leapt to an 11-0 lead and countered every Bakersfield attempt to close the margin to single digits.
 
Following its opponent's first basket, UNLV extended its margin with a 7-0 scoring run and finished the first period with a 20-6 advantage.

UNLV led 37-20 at halftime and held a 17-point advantage until the final seconds of the third quarter.

But the Lady Rebels suffered a 7-minute field goal drought that allowed Bakersfield to close within 51-43 with 6 minutes to play. Essence Booker's pull-up jumper with 5 ½ remaining set off a 20-13 volley that saw the Lady Rebels take 15 free throw attempts, hitting 11 to seal the victory.

"We feel like we can still play a lot better," La Rocque added. "It was a different week from the normal rhythm, with back-to-back road travel, finals coming up and the stresses that come with it.

"But we'll always be happy with a win on the road," 

Booker finished with 6 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and four steals.

Freshman guard Kiara Jackson scored 10 of her career-high 17 points in the fourth quarter. Jackson was 8-for-10 at the free throw line with seven of those makes coming in the final 8 minutes of the game.

Young added seven points in the final period to claim her third double-double of the season.

Jayden Eggleston led the Roadrunners with 17 points.

The Lady Rebels next face Texas Tech for the final contest of a three-game road stretch Sunday, Dec. 12, in Canyon, Texas, on the campus of West Texas A&M.

STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV drew 21 fouls and converted 19 of 29 free throw attempts into points. Conversely, CSUB drew 13 fouls from UNLV players and shot just 7-of-12 at the line.

NO SOUP FOR YOU: UNLV allowed Cal State Bakersfield just nine second-chance opportunities in 70 possessions. The Lady Rebels outrebounded the Roadrunners 56-32 overall and 37-9 in CSUB's offensive halfcourt.

PRIME TIME: UNLV grew its lead to 23-6 after Alyssa Durazo-Frescas drained a 3-pointer one minute into the second period.  Though CSUB rallied to cut the margin to nine, UNLV answered and extended its advantage to 17 again and held it until the final 35 seconds of the third quarter.

ROADRUNNIN': UNLV made four of its first six field goals to take an 11-0 advantage four minutes into the game. Young scored 4, Booker scored 4 and Durazo-Frescas hit a 3 during the span.

CASTLING: In addition to Young's and Jackson's career scoring highs, Khayla Rooks counted a career best with seven assists and Booker's 10 rebounds surpassed her previous best by two.