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Many, including UNLV head coach Lindy La Rocque wondered how the Lady Rebels would respond to the beat down they experienced the day before versus the Boise State Broncos.
Freshman Desi-Rae Young’s goggles were a symbol for the type of response her team had in game two against Boise State. A popped out lens and multiple swipes across the face showed how gritty the Lady Rebels were as they topped Boise State on the second night of a back-to-back Thursday, Feb. 11, 74-62.
She added another double-double to her impressive rookie season resume and was dominant on both ends of the floor while helping UNLV win its home regular season finale.
UNLV moves to 9-5 in conference play, and sits at fourth place in the Mountain West standings.
The Lady Rebels will take the weekend to rest up before traveling to San Diego for a two-game trip with game one beginning on Monday, Feb. 15. Tip-off is at 1 p.m.
Young finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds with a couple of steals.
When discussing Young’s play, La Rocque mentioned rebounding as an “effort statistic.”
Young also took an elbow to the face on multiple occasions, including being on the opposite end of a Flagrant-1 foul from Boise State’s Abby Muse, who would eventually foul out of the contest.
It was a feisty game, with some pushing and shoving, bodies flying around for loose balls, and charges being drawn on both sides, but UNLV kept its composure.
“I think the biggest thing we wanted to see in the game today was just a better effort,” La Rocque said. “I wanted to come into the locker room at half time and even after the game and be able to answer the question, ‘Are we proud of the effort?’”
The Lady Rebels were in charge for the entirety of the contest and held Boise’s sharpshooter Jade Loville to just 14 points on 4-14 shooting from the field. Loville had 40 points in yesterday’s rout of UNLV.
While Loville had a quiet game, her teammate Mallory McGwire had a monster outing. The 6’5” center finished with 19 points and 20 rebounds for Boise State, and kept them in the game for the most part.
But even with McGwire’s herculean effort, UNLV attacked the paint early and often resulting in a lot of fouls for Boise. Muse and McGwire both ended the night on the bench after each fouled out.
Boise State shot 19 free throws to UNLV’s 30.
Only six Lady Rebels finished in the scoring column.
The final points scored by UNLV belonged to the lone senior on the roster, Bailey Thomas.
In what was her final regular season home game donning the scarlet and gray, it was only fitting she went out a winner.
The veteran had a team-high 18 points to go with three assists, rebounds and steals each.
Thomas collected the final rebound off a missed free throw from Boise State as the final buzzer rang across the Cox Pavilion.
Thomas was asked to learn the point guard position in the offseason, and she did so gracefully. Her spirit on the court was high all season, which reflected on her younger teammates.
It speaks to the resilient attitude the team has carried with them all season, and will be crucial as the Mountain West Conference Championship tournament looms closer.
“With four games left for us to play, we have to rely on [the effort],” La Rocque said.
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