SAN DIEGO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Lady Rebels suffered their first Mountain West loss of the season, 59-58, against San Diego State on Saturday afternoon at Viejas Arena.
 
Macie James led the Scarlet & Gray (16-5, 8-1 MW) with a season-high 13 points, which is only one-point shy of tying her career high. James only missed one of her shots taken today, having shot 4-for-5 from the field, 1-for-1 from long range and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Amarachi Kimpson was the second-leading scorer for the Lady Rebels with 10 points. Alyssa Brown was the leading rebounder for the squad with eight. Kiara Jackson dished six assists against the Aztecs.
 
San Diego State (15-7, 4-5 MW) had three players in double-digits and were led by Veronica Sheffey's 16 points. Nat Martinez put up 12 points, while Naomi Panganiban had 10 points respectively. Cali Clark had nine rebounds to lead the Aztecs.
 
TURNING POINT: In the fourth quarter, the Aztecs were able to cut the deficit to six, 50-44, before Meadow Roland put the Lady Rebels back up by eight with a layup, 52-44. San Diego State then scored a jump shot and two free throws to make it 52-48. McKinna Brackens gave the Lady Rebels back the six-point lead at 54-48 with a bucket, but the Aztecs countered with a three and two free throws to only be down by a point. After going back and forth for the final 40 seconds, San Diego State tied the game at the free throw line, 57-all. Kimpson gave the Lady Rebels a one-point lead on a free throw, 58-57 with less than three seconds left to play. As the ball was inbounded by the Aztecs following a timeout, Sheffey drove to the basket and threw up a layup that sank at the buzzer to give the Aztecs the lead, 59-58.
 
OTHER NOTES:

• The Lady Rebels and Aztecs each shot 40.0% from the field. UNLV was 20-for-50 as San Diego State was 22-for-55.
• The Lady Rebels made eight three pointers compared to the Aztecs' five.
• San Diego State brought down two more rebounds than UNLV (31-29).
• The Aztecs were a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line.
• There were four lead changes and three times the two squads were tied.
• UNLV's bench out-scored SDSU's bench 22-9.
• The Lady Rebels dished 14 assists.
• The Aztecs won the paint, 30-20.
• SDSU had five blocks and eight steals.

 
UP NEXT: The Lady Rebels will have the midweek bye this week and be back on the court in one-week on Saturday, Feb. 1 to host in-state rival UNR at 2 p.m.