LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — UNLV women’s basketball is moving on at the Mountain West Conference tournament after a dominant quarterfinal win over Fresno State on Sunday night.
The Lady Rebels, the No. 2 seed in the bracket, took full advantage of their first-round bye and fresh legs, controlling the game from start to finish at the Thomas & Mack Center.
UNLV set the tone early on both ends of the floor, starting with defense and turning rebounds into quick transition opportunities. A little give-and-go action around the perimeter led to an early 3-pointer from Aaliyah Alexander as the Lady Rebels opened the game on an 8-0 run.
UNLV leaned heavily on the 3-point shot in the first half, hitting from deep at a 67% clip. The Lady Rebels also did damage inside, with Shelbee Brown muscling her way into the paint for key buckets to keep Fresno State on its heels.
The long-range barrage continued as Tristan James knocked down a 3-pointer from downtown, and Sydny Summers followed by stopping and popping from the wing. UNLV took a 41-27 lead into halftime and never looked back.
The Lady Rebels’ dominance carried over into the final 20 minutes as they rolled past the Bulldogs to advance to the semifinals. Head coach Lindy La Rocque called it a total team effort, relying heavily on her bench after Alexander and Meadow Roland ran into early foul trouble. That depth could prove crucial as the tournament continues.
Earlier Sunday, top-seeded San Diego State was upset by Air Force, opening the door for UNLV to make a run at the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Lady Rebels return to the Thomas & Mack Center on Monday night to face Colorado State in the semifinals. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
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