Lady Rebels power through Blue Demons in early Power conference test

UNLV overcame a power conference test in the program’s second showing of the second.

The Lady Rebels finished off a home-and-home series with the DePaul Blue Demons that began last year Sunday, Nov. 9 with a, 85-78, win from The Pavilion. After beginning her coaching career 0-5 against Power Conference schools, head coach Lindy La Rocque now has four wins in her last 11 tries.

“This is why you coach,” head coach Lindy La Rocque said. “This is why you play, to put yourselves in opportunities to have big time matchups.”

A season-opening three-game homestand will wrap up with a national test for UNLV when it takes on No. 16 Baylor. That game is set for Friday, Nov. 16 from The Pavilion with tip-off set for 6 p.m.

Last year, the Lady Rebels were beaten by seven points by the Bears on the road in Texas.

“Part of basketball is learning how to win,” La Rocque said. “And this group continues to just learn different ways to win.”

UNLV flipped a switch in the third quarter to break free of a tight contest with DePaul. The home team used a 10-0 run while holding its opponent without a point for more than four and a half minutes.

“Just coming out from the locker room,” sophomore forward Meadow Roland said. “Coach said they scored too much in the first half. So we held ourselves accountable and kept them from scoring when we came out.”

To start the game, the Lady Rebs needed nearly two and a half minutes to connect on their first made field goal. Not long after, the team would go on a 12-4 run to get itself back into the game.

In total, the game featured 11 lead changes and nine ties.

“We did a great job in the scout,” La Rocque said. “We knew they were going to be physical and tough. But there’s nothing like feeling that in a game and I am proud of our team’s grit, tenacity and togetherness.”

Roland nearly fully emptied her gas tank in the win which included not taking her first break until around 13 minutes into the game.

“Obviously, Meadow with a standout game,” La Rocque said. “Eighteen [points] and 15 [rebounds], she’s put in a lot of work so I’m happy to see her be ready and step up for a lot of these big time moments.”

At the conclusion of the third quarter, Roland was seen with her hands on her knees as she attempted to catch her breath.

“She was just cramping a little bit honestly,” La Rocque said. “This is probably a career-high minutes played in a game. She’s got to get used to it. She’ll be better for the next one.”

Roland’s effort was well-rewarded with the win and with a night that produced 18 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and two steals.

“I’m feeling like I played a lot of minutes,” she said. “A little tired but it’s okay, it comes with the game.”

While Roland reached her double-double early in the fourth quarter, she’d be joined by a fellow frontcourt teammate not long after. Senior forward Shelbee Brown scored back-to-back baskets to secure her double-double before finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

“Two with double-doubles, five in double-digit scoring,” La Rocque said. “Those are winning stats. I think the rebounds, the double-doubles, if those two can do that every night and they really can, we should be successful.”

As a team, UNLV won the rebounding battle, 41-37. In addition, the team won the points in the paint category, 50-42.

“Rebounding, free throws,” La Rocque said. “When it’s physical like that, those are the stats that you have to win. To show that you’re not going to get punked.”

Fifth-year senior guard Aaliyah Alexander chipped in with 18 points for a share in the team-high along with Roland. Fellow starting guard Jasmyn Lott added 12 more of her own.

Both Alexander and Lott posted those nights after logging 18 and 17 points respectively in the team’s season opener.

Fifth-year transfer guard Destiny Leo reached double-figures with 11 points in 18 minutes while reaching the bench mark by scoring five straight points in the third quarter.

“I thought Destiny Leo did a great job coming off the bench, hitting a couple huge shots when it didn’t feel like we could make a shot,” La Rocque said. “Really proud of our effort.”

Leo accounted for two of the team’s three made three-pointers in the win. The final longball came with less than 30 seconds left in regulation by senior guard Mariah Elohim to put the Lady Rebels up five.

“We keep preaching, ‘We need everyone, we need everyone,’” La Rocque said. “Honestly, there just hasn’t been that many opportunities to demonstrate that. And here you are, that’s the biggest shot of the game and honestly, it’s the biggest pass of the game.”