LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — It's a huge game.

The top two teams in the Mountain West meet Thursday night as UNLV (15-4 overall, 7-1 Mountain West) hosts New Mexico (17-4, 8-0) at Cox Pavilion.

"It is a huge game," UNLV head women's basketball coach Lindy La Rocque said. "Our team is well aware of that. We're not shying away from the implications that this game could have on seeding and where we want to be in conference play."

The Lady Rebels' only blemish on their conference record is a loss to the Lobos in Albuquerque on Jan. 3. New Mexico's LaTora Duff sank a long-range 3 with 5.4 seconds remaining to upend UNLV 71-68. Both teams are undefeated since that meeting.

"Watching the game back, we did a lot of things really well but what was most exciting to me is there were so many things that didn't even look like the team we are now, how much we've improved the last three weeks.

"We have to think and know that they've improved as well. We have to go out there and show it, execute."

UNLV and New Mexico represent the Mountain West's top scoring offenses. UNLV sophomore center and Mountain West Player of the Week Desi-Rae Young scores 15.9 points per game, second among conference players. New Mexico's LaTascya Duff and Jaedyn De La Cerda are the league's top 3-pointer shooters.

"Some of the things that worked in the first game I think will work again. We have to pound the ball inside, we have to rebound, rebound, rebound. In this game, we have to do a better job of finishing. 

"Defensively, we held them to the fewest points in conference play. So we've got to keep scoring, play sound, connected defense and I think we'll be in for another high-scoring, fun basketball game."

Tip off is 6 p.m.

A live video stream is available on the Mountain West Network. Live audio, featuring Wyatt Tomchek on play-by-play and Kevaney Martin as the analyst, can be heard at UNLVRebels.com. 

• All-time series: UNLV leads 37-27.
• Streak: Lost two.
• First meeting: Jan. 20, 1975.  UNLV won 71-64 in Las Vegas.
• Last meeting: Jan. 3, 2022. New Mexico won 71-68 in Albuquerque.

Scouting New Mexico

• New Mexico leads the Mountain West standings and is carrying a nine-game winning streak, averaging a 10.3 margin of victory during the span.
• The Lobos' starting five is comprised entirely of seniors who account for 80 percent of the team's scoring and 72 percent of minutes played.
• All five starters average double-figure scoring, led by Shaiquel McGruder, who totaled 17 points and 15 rebounds against UNLV in the Jan. 3 matchup.
• New Mexico ranks fourth nationally in 3-point field goals per game. Three Lobos average 2 or more makes per game with LaTascya Duff and Jaedyn De La Cerda sitting 1-2 in the Mountain West rankings.

Lady Rebels' last time out: UNLV 78, UNR 75

• UNLV rallied from a 12-point third period deficit to win at UNR for the first time since 2017.
• It was the Wolf Pack's first conference loss and ended a seven-game home winning streak.
• Justice Ethridge scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half.
• Desi-Rae Young had a game-leading 19 points with 17 coming in the first half; she earned Mountain West Player of the Week for a third time this season.
• UNR led 41-37 at halftime.
• The Wolf Pack opened the third period on a 13-5 run.
• Ethridge used Khayla Rooks' screen to race ahead of her defender for a layup, then swished a 3-pointer on the next possession to tie the game 63-63 with 6:41 to play in the fourth.
• Kiara Jackson scored five consecutive points, converting an and-1 layup and scoop shot, to put the Lady Rebels up 3. Ethridge stole UNR's inbounds for a fast-break layup to make it 74-68. 
• Nneka Obiazor totaled 13 points and six rebounds off the bench.
• Essence Booker scored 17 points, 11 in the second half, in her first game at Lawlor Events Center since she played for the Wolf Pack in her first two collegiate seasons.
• Rooks set a season high and matched a career high with 10 rebounds.

Start me up

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

Free range

• Essence Booker ranks 11th among Division I players with a .913 free throw percentage.
• Booker's 14-for-14 free throw shooting against Boise State set a UNLV record.
• UNLV's single-season free throw percentage record is .889 set by Shari Netzel in 1988-89.

Ten commandments

• Nneka's Obiazor has scored  in double digits in every home game this season. 
• A transfer from Youngstown State, Obiazor has only one career home game in which she has not reached double figures: her very first collegiate game, an 8-point outing.
• Obiazor is the only non-starter ranked in the Mountain West's top 20 for scoring and rebounding.