LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — The Lady Rebels avoided the worst hangover in Vegas since Phil, Stu and Alan lost Doug on a bachelor party over a decade ago.
Some 42 hours after ascending to first place in the Mountain West in a thriller versus New Mexico, UNLV (17-4 overall, 9-1 Mountain West) came alive in the second half to fly past Air Force 72-54 Saturday at the Cox Pavilion.
Desi-Rae Young and
Essence Booker scored 16 points to lead the Lady Rebels.
"It's been an emotional, exciting week," UNLV head women's basketball coach
Lindy La Rocque said. "We kept things light yesterday to keep our legs fresh after emptying out the gas task on Thursday night."
UNLV showed signs of fatigue at the start, turning over the ball five times in its first eight possessions. Air Force (11-10, 5-5) led 11-6 when Booker scored her first points on a step-back jumper to ignite a 13-2 run.
"It was an expectation that we were going to have to pull some things out of the (players), but the message at halftime was we're not going to beg for effort, effort is a choice."
UNLV led 29-23 at halftime.
Straight from the locker rooms, Young,
Nneka Obiazor and Booker, respectively, scored four points each in series to push UNLV to a double-digit lead that was never relinquished.
"They heard the message and went out there and got the job done."
Obiazor finished with eight points and four rebounds.
UNLV freshman forward
Alyssa Brown grabbed 13 rebounds after playing 20-plus minutes for the second straight game making up for the absence of senior
Khayla Rooks, who is out with a foot injury.
Air Force's pressure defense was effective early, but eventually doomed the Falcons who fouled 23 times.
Kiara Jackson drew six fouls and scored 4 of her 13 points at the free throw line.
Four Falcons scored in double figures, led by 11 from Cierra Winters.
UNLV shot 47 percent and held Air Force to 29 percent from the field.
UNLV takes a mid-week bye for some much needed rest before visiting Utah State on Saturday, Feb. 5, in Logan, Utah.
MARGIN CALL: For the seventh straight game, UNLV owned a rebounding margin of 10 or greater. The Lady Rebels outrebounded Air Force 50-34.
FREE PARKING:
Essence Booker entered Saturday ranked ninth for free throw percentage among all Division I players, which she increased to 92.3 percent with a 4-for-4 performance from the charity stripe against Air Force. Booker has now made 25 consecutive free throws (and 50 of her last 51), matching the longest such streak of her career set earlier this season.
WON-DERFUL: UNLV's victory was its 19th consecutive versus Air Force. The Lady Rebels lead the all-time series 47-5.
