LAS VEGAS (LVCaveman) — The Lady Rebels were unable to mount their characteristic second-half surge and succumbed to a 71-64 defeat against UNR in both teams’ regular-season finale on Wednesday night at the Cox Pavilion. Despite a hard-fought battle that featured six ties and eight lead changes, the Wolf Pack ultimately gained the upper hand with a decisive 14-4 scoring run in the final eight minutes of play.
Reflecting on the game, UNLV head coach Lindy La Rocque emphasized the significance of every possession in tight matchups. “Every game from here on out is going to come down to single possessions,” La Rocque stated. “A single stop, a bucket here, a rebound—that’s what it comes down to. They had some critical offensive rebounds in the second half that pushed a one-possession game to two, then three, and then we were scratching and clawing to get back into it.”
Indeed, UNR capitalized on their offensive rebounding prowess, accumulating 21 second-chance points from 16 offensive rebounds—an area where the Lady Rebels struggled to contain their opponents. The 16 offensive rebounds allowed were the most UNLV had given away this season.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, UNLV had several standout performers on their side. Desi-Rae Young and Alyssa Durazo-Frescas led the team in scoring with 14 points each, showcasing their offensive firepower. On the other side, Nia Alexander had a stellar game for UNR, contributing 26 points to guide her team to victory.
With the outcome, UNR’s win in the Silver State Series tied the all-sports competition between the two schools at one win apiece for women’s basketball. The series is sponsored by IBEW and Nevada Donor Network, adding an extra layer of intensity to the matchup.
However, despite the setback, Coach La Rocque remains confident in her team’s ability to bounce back. “Every game we play, we want to win. It stings, it hurts. We’re not happy. But this loss doesn’t define our whole season,” La Rocque affirmed. “It doesn’t take away that we won the regular-season championship. I’m confident our team is going to respond in the right way.”
Indeed, the Lady Rebels can still take solace in their accomplishments this season. As they head into the Mountain West Conference Championship, UNLV carries the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. The team will face the winner of the matchup between No. 8 Fresno State and No. 9 Utah State on Monday, March 7, at noon at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Although the defeat against UNR was a tough pill to swallow, the Lady Rebels found reasons to smile after the game. A capacity crowd witnessed the team officially receive the Mountain West regular-season championship trophy from conference commissioner Craig Thompson. Additionally, the program took the opportunity to honor their senior members, forward Khayla Rooks, and student manager Naomi Alvarado, in a heartfelt celebration.
The Lady Rebels remain focused and determined as they prepare for the upcoming conference championship. With their eyes on redemption, they aim to channel their regular-season success and make a strong postseason run.
