LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — The Lady Rebels close this week with two home games within three days, first facing Boise State (5-9 overall, 1-2 Mountain West) Thursday, Jan. 13, at the Cox Pavilion.

The matchup pits the Mountain West's top two rebounding teams against one another.

Tip off is 6:30 p.m.

"Boise State is really, really well-coached, and they have some great size," UNLV head women's basketball coach Lindy La Rocque said. "They surround their bigs with some really good shooters. We've got our hands full—perimeter and post. Ultimately, they want to get it inside, so we're going to have a great party in the paint."

Boise State's 6-foot-3 forward Abby Muse and 6-1 forward Elodie Lalotte have combined for 11 double-doubles this season.

Graduate transfer Dominique Leonidas scores 11.4 points per game to lead the Broncos this season, but has increased her output to 20.3 points per game versus Mountain West teams.

Thursday's game will be televised locally on YurView (Cox 14, 1014 HD) and streamed live on the Mountain West Network with Matt Neverett and Steve Cofield calling the action. Live audio, featuring Wyatt Tomchek on play-by-play, can be heard at UNLVRebels.com. 

• All-time series: Boise State leads 12-11.
• Streak: W1; UNLV won the last meeting.
• First meeting: Dec. 20, 2006. Boise State won 76-63 in Las Vegas.
• Last meeting: Feb. 11, 2021. UNLV won 74-62 in Las Vegas.

Lady Rebels' last time out: UNLV 83, Air Force 67

• UNLV secured its 18th straight win against Air Force. The Lady Rebels are 46-5 overall.
•  UNLV trailed 16-12 after 10 minutes following a 4-of-16 first-period field goal shooting performance. The Lady Rebels kicked into overdrive, shooting at a 64 percent clip in the second period to take a 36-27 lead at halftime.
• Essence Booker scored 17 points to lead UNLV. Booker was 6-for-6 from the free throw line and added four assists.
• Desi-Rae Young, 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Nneka Obiazor, 13 points and 11 rebounds, each totaled a double-double. 
• Alyssa Durazo-Frescas scored 13 points after a perfect shooting outing, hitting 5-for-5 from the field with three 3-pointers.
• The third period was a seesaw of runs as the Lady Rebels started with 8 unanswered points, followed by a 10-2 scoring run by the Falcons. UNLV adapted by attacking the rim and reached the line for seven straight free throws as part of a 9-0 run to finish the period.
• Durazo-Frescas and Khayla Rooks hit back-to-back 3s to start the fourth period to wrap a 15-0 scoring run that put the game out of reach. UNLV took a 30-point lead before emptying the bench in the final minutes.
• Air Force entered the game leading the Mountain West in 3-point field goal defense, holding opponents to 24 percent with a high of 40 percent. UNLV shot 58 percent from beyond the arc, hitting seven of 12 attempts.

Scouting Boise State

• Boise State takes its first road trip since Dec. 28 after COVID postponed scheduled visits to Wyoming and Nevada.
• Dominique Leonidas, a graduate transfer from Brown, leads the Broncos scoring at 11.4 points per game.
• Leonidas also ranks in the league's top 10 in assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Boise State leads the Mountain West in rebounding margin (+7.5) while UNLV is second (+6.9).
• The Broncos and Lady Rebels split two games in Las Vegas last year.
• Boise State's .379 field goal percentage defense ranks second in the conference. UNLV's .441 (offensive) field goal percentage ranks second.

Short memories

• The Lady Rebels have only suffered consecutive defeats once under Lindy La Rocque. 
• Under La Rocque, UNLV is 11-1 following a loss (in the same season of play) with an average margin of victory of 17 points in those nine games.

Start me up

• UNLV's 11-4 start is the program's best in 18 seasons.
• The 2003-04 Lady Rebels (26-8, 10-4 MW) reached 15-3 before suffering a fourth loss.

Setting records in the classroom

• The Lady Rebels finished the Fall 2021 term with a program record 3.44 team GPA.
• Six players — Essence Booker, Alyssa Brown, Alyssa Durazo-Frescas, Justice Ethridge, Jade Thomas and Taylin Smith — earned Dean's List distinction (for undergraduates only).
• Graduate senior Khayla Rooks crushed it in her first post-grad semester, earning a 3.80 GPA in cybersecurity studies.

Next home game

• UNLV hosts Utah State on Saturday, Jan. 15.
• Tip off inside Thomas & Mack Center is 4 p.m.
• Proof of vaccination is required at the Thomas & Mack Center. Read UNLV COVID-19 requirements for entry.