HILO, Hawaii (UNLVRebels.com) — UNLV needed every inch of its size advantage to escape the Big Island unscathed, rallying from a 15-point deficit to top Hawaii Hilo 77-74 Wednesday night.

Six-foot-1 center Desi-Rae Young scored a game-leading 24 points and 6-foot-2 forward Alyssa Brown added a career-high 18 points and 13 rebounds. The frontcourt duo made critical plays in the final minutes to prevent UNLV from having back-to-back losses for the first time since December 2020.

Hilo shot 10-for-13 from the field in the second period as it opened a 15-point lead with 6 minutes to play in the half. The Vulcans led 41-29 at halftime.

Hilo freshman Kaile Cruz made a 3-pointer at the start of the final period for an 11-point lead. Young would score 9 of UNLV's next 11 points as the margin whittled to 6.

Brown then drained a 3 with 4 ½ minutes remaining to close the margin to its closest point since the first quarter. Alyssa Durazo-Frescas buried an unanswered 3 on the next trip down for a 68-68 tie. 

Brown cleaned up Durazo-Frescas' miss on the next possession for a layup-and-1. Utah State transfer Kamalu Kamakawiwo'ole fouled out on the play and left the Vulcans molten with a lineup of guards 5-foot-8 and shorter.

The Lady Rebels' defense forced Hilo into a shot-clock violation with 2 minutes remaining and Booker followed with a jumper for UNLV's first lead since the score was 7-6. 

UNLV wouldn't surrender the lead again.

Hilo, who shot at a 54-percent clip until the final 3 minutes, missed six of its final seven field goal attempts. 

Young's turnaround jumper gave the Lady Rebels a two-possession lead with 30 seconds left. She and Brown then blocked the next two Vulcan attempts.

UNLV improved to 13-1 following a loss in the Lindy La Rocque Era.

Jenna Waki led Hilo with an 8-for-14, 18-point performance. Kamakaawiwo'ole scored 14 points. 

The Lady Rebels next hop to Oah'u for a Sunday afternoon matchup with Hawaii in Honolulu.