LARAMIE, Wyo. (UNLVRebels.com) — Desi-Rae Young watched most of the first half from the bench. In the second half, she made herself the center of attention.

Young counted seven points and three rebounds during a 15-0 third-period scoring run UNLV (18-2 overall, 8-0 Mountain West) used to pull away from Wyoming (12-6, 5-2) for a 71-57 victory Thursday night.

"Probably the toughest place to play for sure, in our league and in the West is at Wyoming," UNLV Head Coach Lindy La Rocque said. "You have to be really tough. This is one of those things we'll look back on when the season ends and be really proud about."

It was UNLV's first win in Laramie since the 2011-12 season, ending a streak of eight consecutive losses at Arena-Auditorium. 

Young scored 11 of her 15 points and grabbed all six rebounds in the second half. The Mountain West Player of the Week was fresh in the high-altitude climate after foul trouble relegated her to a spectator for all but seven minutes of the first two periods. But her return clogged the lane and forced defense help that opens key shots.

While Young and the Lady Rebels went to work, Wyoming missed six straight field-goal attempts and had three turnovers. Alyssa Brown scored on a driving layup. Alyssa Durazo-Frescas put the nail in the coffin with two 3-pointers.

Wyoming shot 3-for-12 from the field in the third period.

"Our defense was huge and our press and zone really kept them off-balance. We created a few turnovers, probably more than what they are used to. We capitalized on those possessions. 

"Then Frescas hit a couple of 3s that really helped us get some separation."

Wyoming entered the game in a tie for second place in the Mountain West standings. The Cowgirls had a five-game winning streak, since falling to UNLV in Las Vegas on Dec. 31, before that ended tonight.

Wyoming center Alyson Fertig entered the game averaging 11 points and nine rebounds. Young silence her to a 4-point, 2-rebound effort.

UNLV entered the final period leading 48-35. Wyoming hit five 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 8 with 4 ½ minutes to play. But Essence Booker took over, scoring 12 of UNLV's final 15 points.

"Regardless of how she's done in the game, the ball has to be in Essence's hands  I trust to her to make the right plays. That's what was working and I kept going back to her."
'
Booker finished with a game-high 20 points and a career-high four steals. Brown scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Durazo-Frescas added 8 points.

UNLV led 30-26 at halftime

Most of the Lady Rebels were in middle school the last time UNLV captured a win in Laramie. Ninth-year UNLV assistant coach Mia Ball was a senior on the last Lady Rebel squad that did so. La Rocque was a senior at Stanford.

UNLV crosses the border for a visit to Colorado State, now the sole owner of second place in the league standings, at Moby Arena on Saturday. The Lady Rebels rallied to an overtime win in their last meeting with the Rams.

"Colorado State is a team that's playing really, really well. We know they are going to have a chip on their shoulder with the way the last game went. 

"But so is our team."