LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — The two hottest teams in the Mountain West converge inside Cox Pavilion Saturday afternoon as UNLV hosts Air Force at 2 p.m. The Lady Rebels will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the 50th anniversary of Title IX.

UNLV took over first place in the Mountain West standings after defeating New Mexico, 85-79, Thursday night. Air Force has won four of its last six, with its two losses dealt by a combined four points, since UNLV won 83-67 at the Academy on Jan. 6.

"The blessing and the curse of being on top is everyone is looking at you, trying to knock you off," UNLV head women's basketball coach Lindy La Rocque said. "Air Force has gotten a lot better since we saw them last."

The recent matchup between the Lady Rebels and Air Force was a see-saw battle as the teams traded multiple double-digit scoring runs.

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

• All-time series: UNLV leads 46-5.
• Streak: Won 18.
• First meeting: Jan. 25, 1997.  Air Force won 67-62 at USAFA.
• Last meeting: Jan. 6, 2022. UNLV won 83-67 at USAFA.

Celebrating women in sports

UNLV will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX with a panel discussion featuring local women leaders in sport.

Nikki Fargas, Las Vegas Aces president; Lisa Motley, LVCVA senior director of sports marketing and special events; and Jaime Stratton, Las Vegas Raiders head of human resources will join moderator Mallory Poole, UNLV assistant athletics director/senior woman administrator for a discussion the contributions, challenges and opportunities they have experienced.

Pre-game events will be held at the Strip View Pavilion on the northwest end of the Thomas & Mack Center. Parking is free around the Thomas & Mack Center and guests do not need a ticket to the game to attend the panel discussion.

Saturday's schedule

Time	Event	Location
11 a.m.	NGWSD Panel Registration (Free)	Strip View Pavilion
12 p.m.	NGWSD Panel Discussion Live stream: https://youtu.be/zyoM7mWSMaI	Strip View Pavilion
1:30 p.m.	Pregame Chalk Talk with Lady Rebels assistant coach Karlie Burris	Strip View Pavilion
2 p.m.	UNLV vs. Air Force tip off	Cox Pavilion

 

Lady Rebels' last time out: UNLV 85,New Mexico 79

• Essence Booker scored a game-leading and career-high 31 points.
• UNLV's victory ended New Mexico's nine-game winning streak.
• New Mexico paced the game early as UNLV struggled with matchups as starting forward
• Seven Lady Rebels scored during a 17-2 second-period run that UNLV used to upend a 10-point deficit and reach halftime down 34-32. 
• Freshman guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas scored 12 points in the third quarter, making three of four 3-point attempts, as the lead changed sides five times in the period.
• Booker's career night celebrated a career milestone as the junior guard crossed 1,000 career points in the game.
• Durazo-Frescas finished the game with 15 points. Young totaled nine points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and Ethridge added eight points and two blocks. 

Scouting Air Force

• Air Force has won four of its last six games, with its two losses dealt by a combined four points, since UNLV won 83-67 at the Academy on Jan. 6.
• The Falcons should be back to full strength after only six players were available in a 40-39 loss to UNR on Jan. 24.
• Air Force (11-9, 5-4) already has its most wins in a season under Chris Gobrecht, in her seventh year as head coach.
• The Falcons' five conference wins before February is also a program record since joining the Mountain West in 1999.
• Senior forward Riley Snyder averages 14.9 points to lead the Falcons and rank fifth in the Mountain West.
• Senior forward Haley Jones' 4.2 offensive rebounds per game ranks 11th nationally.
• Senior guard Cierra Winters ranks 18th in Division I with 2.85 steals per game (57 total).