LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — Look at those nets.

That's what UNLV head coach Lindy La Rocque told her team in the preparation for the Air Force Reserve Mountain West Basketball Championship.

"My message is the same message my coaches told me," La Rocque said, "'Look at those nets. That's what we want.' And to get those nets, you have to win three in three days."

Nneka Obiazor scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead top-seeded UNLV (24-6) past No. 9-seed Utah State (11-19) in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Championships on Monday.

It was UNLV's first win in the conference tournament since 2017, ending a four-year one-and-done streak.

"We checked off the first step and we've got two more to go."

UNLV will face the winner of No. 4 UNR and No. 5 Air Force, which followed the Lady Rebels' contest at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Lady Rebels' 1-for-6 shooting start allowed Utah State to race to a 7-point advantage. Alyssa Durazo-Frescas was left open for a 3 and Obiazor scored six straight to give UNLV its first lead with 2 minutes left in the first period.

Tied 22-22 in the second, Justice Ethridge was fouled on a 3-pointer and sank all her foul shots. UNLV switched to a press defense and forced three turnovers in the next four Utah State possessions to go ahead 28-22. Essence Booker stepped in front of a pass on the block and converted the Aggies' 11th turnover with a buzzer-beating jumper to end the half.

UNLV led 38-27 at halftime.

Desi-Rae Young scored 12 points and matched career highs with five assists and three blocks. Justice Ethridge and Khayla Rooks added 11 apiece as seven Lady Rebels scored nine or more points.

Adryana Quezada, who scored a game-high 26 points for Utah State, clipped the deficit to 6 one minute into the fourth period, but UNLV answered with a 9-0 run to put away the Aggies.

UNLV shot 73 percent, hitting 11 of 15 field goals, in the fourth period. 

"The key for us is taking the right shots. When we get the shots that we want, if they don't go in, that's just the outcome, right? You can't be mad about it."