RANCHO MIRAGE (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's golf team concluded the 2021 Mountain West Championship Wednesday at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, shooting a 50-over 914 over the three rounds to finish in sixth place at the event.

Veronica Joels was the Rebels' top performer through the first two rounds, tied for third at even. The Las Vegas native carded a 5-over in the final round Wednesday to finish tied for seventh with the same score. Freshman Gracie Olkowski came in at 11-over 227 to tie for 15th, followed by sophomore Elina Saksa in 26th at 13-over 229. Freshman Madeleine Luax turned in her best round of the event with a 5-over Wednesday to finish in a tie for 39th at 24-over 240. Sophomore Aliyah Williams rounded things out for UNLV in 44th at 33-over 249.

San Diego State looked like they might cruise to the team victory as they led by 11 shots over New Mexico and Fresno State after two rounds, but the Aztecs shot a 17-over in Wednesday's final round, relinquishing the lead to New Mexico. The Lobos shot a final-round 2-over to win the event by four shots at 19-over 883 for a Mountain West-record ninth conference title. SDSU finished in second at 23-over, followed by San Jose State in third at 34-over, Fresno State in fourth at 38-over and UNR in fifth at 44-over.

SDSU's Sara Kjellker held a slim one-shot lead heading into the final day and was able to to share medalist honors with New Mexico's Lauren Lehigh at 1-over 217. UNR's Victoria Gailey came in third at 3-over 219, while New Mexico's Napat Lertsadwattana and Myah McDonald and SDSU's Andrea Gomez all tied for fourth at 4-over.

The conference championship event concludes the 2021 season for the Rebels, who will look forward to having a full fall and spring season next year.

NOTES:
• As a team, the Rebels finished in the top five in two of six and in the top 10 in four of six regular season tournaments this spring
• UNLV has five returners from last year along with two freshmen newcomers - Madeleine Laux and Gracie Olkowski
• Head coach Amy Bush-Herzer is in her 10th year at the helm of the program. She has led her team to a conference championship four times.