LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — UNLV Head Coach Lindy La Rocque finished her postgame locker room address pointing to the floor burns on Justice Ethridge's knees. 

"Are those going to feel good tomorrow?" La Rocque questioned.

"No, they surely will not," replied Ethridge.

"Would you trade them for anything else?" La Rocque asked.

"I wouldn't," the do-it-all senior guard answered.

UNLV improved to 3-0 for the first time in five seasons after smothering Utah Valley 82-38 Wednesday evening at the Cox Pavilion.

But the Lady Rebels treated the blowout as anything but a walk in the park. They flew for rebounds, dived for loose balls and wrestled away dribbles for the full 40 minutes.

"A total stat-sheet stuffer today," La Rocque said. "And that's just what Justice does. She rises to the occasion and whatever the team needs, she finds a way to do it. She and Essence (Booker) really set the tone early in the game."

Ethridge scored six points on 3-of-5 shooting while counting eight rebounds, seven assists and seven steals  — the last two setting career highs. The Centennial High School alum set the tone at the tip-off with her efforts igniting a 16-0 run to close the first period.

UNLV stormed to a 26-6 lead by the first break and had a 40-16 advantage at halftime. The Lady Rebels' pressure forced 11 turnovers, including two from shot-clock violations, in the first half. And after La Rocque pulled her final starter off the court in the fourth period, the reserves continued to extend the lead.

"Today was a really great visual of our team," La Rocque said. "We have a lot of talented players and we we're just committed to running our offense, which isn't necessarily focusing on one person scoring all the baskets. The more people that can contribute, the harder we are to guard. I'm really proud of everyone for how hard they played."

Desi-Rae Young led all players with 16 points and nine rebounds. Alyssa Brown had her second straight 15-point performance. Essence Booker hit four of five field goals and went 4-for-4 at the free throw line for 12 points. Sophomore guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas hit three 3-pointers en route to a season-high 11 points.

"I've really enjoyed how we've meshed as a team," Ethridge said. "We've really played hard together and made plays as a team."

UNLV outrebounded Utah Valley by 26 boards (47 to 21) and allowed just two second-chance points. The Lady Rebels held the Wolverines to 32 percent field goal shooting and a 1-for-14 3-point performance.

Young and Booker each scored 8 apiece in the third period as the Lady Rebels closed the third stanza with a 15-2 scoring run.

La Rocque unloaded her bench with 8 minutes to play, leading 72-32. Alyssa Brown and Kenadee Winfrey promptly hit 3s while Erica Collins added her first collegiate field goal as the reserves increased UNLV's lead to as much as 48 points.