FORT COLLINS, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) — Sharing is for second graders.
UNLV captured its first outright claim of a regular-season conference title in 32 seasons after trampling Colorado State 80-69 Saturday afternoon.
"I'm just proud of the effort from everyone on this team, this staff and our city," UNLV head coach
Lindy La Rocque said. "Las Vegas has waited for this for so long."
Freshman guard
Kiara Jackson came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points, including 17 in the second half, to lead the Lady Rebels' rally.
"She's been beating us up in practice," La Rocque quipped. "It was nice to see Kiara finally take it out on someone else."
UNLV (23-5 overall, 15-2 Mountain West) bounced back from its first loss in 52 days to win at Colorado State (18-9, 9-8) for the first time since 2008, ending a nine-game losing streak at Moby Arena.
"Whether our players would admit it or not, there was a weight on our shoulders. Carrying a winning streak and taking everyone's best shot game after game—it's a privilege and a burden."
Colorado State's Kendall Kinzer hit five of her first seven 3-point attempts as the Rams surged to a 10-point lead with 8 minutes remaining in the first half. UNLV whittled its deficit to 1, closing the score to 35-34 with 3 minutes to play, but Kinzer snuck loose for consecutive 3-pointers to end the period.
Colorado State led 41-36 at halftime.
UNLV stormed out of the locker room, outscoring CSU 25-10 in the third. The Lady Rebels hit 10 of their 19 (53 percent) field goal attempts compared to a 3-of-13 (23 percent) effort from the Rams.
Essence Booker tied the game, 47-47, on a pair of free throws four minutes into the period and
Nneka Obiazor followed with a layup that put the UNLV on top for the first time since the scoreboard read 3-2.
McKenna Hofschild answered with a floater through the lane, but it would be the last time Colorado State found itself within one possession.
Jackson scored nine consecutive points, casting an arry of dribble-drives, jumper and 3-pointers that left the Rams reeling. Jackson found herself in such a groove that La Rocque stopped calling plays and handed the freshman keys to the Corvette for a spin around the block.
The Lady Rebels took a 13-point lead midway through the final period and sank its final seven free throws to seal the victory.
Booker scored 17 points and
Justice Ethridge added 13.
Desi-Rae Young counted her 10th double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Kinzer scored a game-high 21 points. Hofschlid finished with 14 points and nine assists, passing CSU great and Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon for second in the program's career assists rankings.
UNLV earned a share of the Mountain West regular season title after second-place New Mexico fell to Fresno State on Tuesday. The Lady Rebels hoped to take full ownership Wednesday night in Wyoming, but the Cowgirls won 77-73, ending UNLV's 12-game winning streak.
It's just the sixth regular-season conference title for UNLV women's basketball, and the first outright since the 1992-93 season when the Lady Rebels went 17-1 in the Big West Conference.
UNLV hosts its season finale and senior night, celebrating graduate transfer
Khayla Rooks, Wednesday, March 2, against UNR. Tip off is 6 p.m. at the Cox Pavilion.
SHORT MEMORIES: The Lady Rebels have suffered consecutive defeats only once under La Rocque. UNLV is now 12-1 following a loss (in the same season of play) with an average margin of victory of 17 points.
FLIP THE SCRIPT: The victory ensures UNLV of its best overall record since the 1993-94 season. With at least two games guaranteed, the Lady Rebels can finish no worse than 23-7, a stark contrast from a program that carried a 13-17 overall record just two seasons ago.
JUST(ICE) IN TIME: Senior
Justice Ethridge overcame an 0-for-7 shooting start to finish the game 5-for-10 for 13 points. Ethridge just missed her first career double-double with nine rebounds, a career high. Her game-leading five offensive boards helped UNLV collect 15 second-chance points.
ACTION JACKSON:
Kiara Jackson's 20-point performance followed a 10-point outing against Wyoming. It marked the first time Jackson has had back-to-back double-digit scoring games.
CASTLING:
Khayla Rooks corraled 10 rebounds, matching her career single-game best.
BALL CONTROL: Colorado State leads all NCAA Division I teams in fewest turnovers per game, averaging 9.9. But it was UNLV that won the turnover battle Saturday, counting a season-low eight to CSU"s nine.
