Lady Rebels Chop Rams In OT - University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics

Saturday, December 31

Las Vegas

3 p.m.

University of Nevada Las Vegas

12-2,2-0Mountain West

Colorado State

8-5,1-1Mountain West

Team	1	2	3	4	OT 1	F
Colorado St.	12	31	22	16	7	88
UNLV	26	13	22	20	10	91

12/31/2022 6:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

UNLV improves to 2-0 in the Mountain West after wild finish

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — The game ended just like they drew it up. Then the Lady Rebels had to fight for five more minutes to earn their victory.

Alyssa Brown was fouled with 0.2 seconds to play in regulation and hit the free throws to send UNLV (12-2 overall, 2-0 Mountain West) to overtime in its 91-88 victory over Colorado State (8-5, 1-1) Saturday at the Cox Pavilion.

It was UNLV's third straight win over the Rams, who were the Lady Rebels' opponents in the 2022 Mountain West Tournament Championship Game.

Brown scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in her first extensive action since being sidelined two games with a knee injury. Down 2 with 1.1 seconds to play, Kenadee Winfrey inbounded from the sideline to Brown, posted under the basket. Brown drew a foul from Joseana Vaz on her layup attempt and knocked down two free throws to even the score 81-81.

"It was exactly how Coach Lindy drew it up," Brown said. "Ken's a great passer and had a lot of faith in me. I knew I had to get it off and at least get fouled."

Brown led the Lady Rebels' scoring in overtime and grabbed six rebounds that kept the Rams from mounting an attack during the extra time. Her presence was critical after starting center Desi-Rae Young fouled out with 6 seconds remaining in the fourth period.

"That's the biggest statement—how glad we are to have Alyssa Brown back," UNLV Head Coach Lindy La Rocque said. "She was critical throughout the whole game not to mention two of the biggest free throws of her young life.

"I knew she was going to make them. I was just so proud of her."

Essence Booker scored 16 to lead the Lady Rebels, Winfrey added 15 points and Young had 13.

Colorado State's McKenna Hofschild, who played all but 1 minute of the game, scored 37 points but faltered late in the contest. The Mountain West scoring leader hit eight of her first 11 field-goal attempts but connected on just one of four field-goal attempts in the fourth period and then missed two free throws in overtime.

UNLV looked to make the game a blowout early, using a 15-3 run to stretch out a 26-12 lead by the end of the first period. But the Lady Rebels struggled to make baskets in the second period. UNLV went 0-for-7 from 3-point range and finally ended Colorado State's rally when freshman guard Jasmyn Lott scored five points off turnovers she forced while the Rams attempted to advance the ball past halfcourt.

With 3 ½ to play, Young saved an offensive rebound and kicked to Booker for a 3, giving the Lady Rebels a 72-69 advantage. CSU scored the next 6 points and the game became a free-throw contest until Booker buried a jumper off a called timeout inbound with 6.5 seconds left in regulation.

Hofschild raced through the lane and forced the call on Young before making what seemed like the game-deciding free throws. But the Lady Rebels had more to give.

"This game, more than ever, we felt how we have to rely on every single person. Our bench was huge."

UNLV's reserves outscored Colorado State's 37 to 3.

La Rocque announced that junior forward Nneka Obiazor will undergo season-ending knee surgery. Obiazor has not participated with the Lady Rebels since Dec. 7.