USAFA, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) — Four Lady Rebels scored in double figures as UNLV (11-4, 3-1 Mountain West) used a dominant second period to keep the lead for good in an 83-67 win against Air Force (7-7, 1-2) Thursday night at Clune Arena.
"There's an opportunity being created for other people now that our opponents have the scouting report on us," UNLV head coach
Lindy La Rocque said. "They know Essence (Booker) is going to have the ball in her hands, that we're going to try to throw down to Desi (Young). If those things are taken away, others are going to have the opportunity to get open and take advantage."
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.
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.
"Basketball is a game of mistakes, it's a game of runs and you want to try to weather the storm if another team is going on a run and get it stopped, and then start our own.
"I'm proud of our ability to respond because we haven't always done that when people have gone on some runs."
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's Dasha MacMillan led all scorers with 20 points.
UNLV gets some much needed rest after starting Mountain West play with three road games. The Lady Rebels next host Boise State at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Thursday, Jan. 13. Tip off is 6:30 p.m. PT.
LET'S GO STREAKING: UNLV secured its 18th straight win against Air Force. The Lady Rebels are 46-5 overall in the series and haven't lost to the Falcons since Jan. 12, 2013.
HULK SMASH: UNLV is 11-1 under
Lindy La Rocque following a loss (in the same season) with an average margin of victory of 17 points.
START ME UP: UNLV's 11-4 start is its best since the 2003-04 squad (26-8 overall, 10-4 Mountain West) reached 15-4.
SPLASH MOUNTAIN:
Alyssa Durazo-Frescas was perfect from the field at the U.S. Air Force Academy, including three 3-pointers. The freshman has hit 13 of 22 3-point attempts in her last five games.
FREE PARKING:
Desi-Rae Young is shooting 83 percent from the free throw line in conference play, having made 10 of 12 attempts. Young made just 60 percent (37 of 62) of her free throws during non-conference play.
STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND: 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.
DOUBLE DOUBLE-DOUBLE:
Nneka Obiazor and
Desi-Rae Young each scored a double-double, marking the first time a Lady Rebels duo has achieved the feat in the same game since Young and
Jade Thomas did in UNLV's 2021 regular season finale in a 75-74 win at Fresno State.
