San Diego State grinds out second win of season as UNLV suffers regular season sweep

UNLV was suffocated in the second half as part of a second loss to San Diego State this year, solidifying a regular season sweep.

With two games separating the Lady Rebels from the first-place Aztecs, the latter got the better of the former, 80-62, Wednesday, Feb. 18 from Viejas Arena. Earlier this season, UNLV lost in overtime at home to SDSU and have now lost four of the last five in the rivalry including losing three straight.

Before this slump, the program had won 10 straight games against its conference rival.

While San Diego State improved to 12-1 at home, the four-time reigning Mountain West regular season champions fell to 7-6 on the road. Overall, the team is 17-9 on the year with four games remaining on the regular season schedule.

Up next is the team’s Senior Day against its intrastate rival Nevada – Reno. That contest is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21 with tip-off slated for 2 p.m.

A 25-11 fourth quarter for the home team was the icing on the cake of a second half that went every way UNLV hoped it wouldn’t. After trailing by just three points at halftime, the Lady Rebels went down seven points after going 1-for-7 during a stretch in the third quarter.

Moreover, the club went scoreless for more than half of the 10-minute fourth quarter while recording just a single made field goal through the first half of the final frame. In total, UNLV went 4-for-17 in the fourth quarter while falling behind by as many as 18 points.

Originally, San Diego State took that three-point lead into the halftime break on the heels of an 11-2 run. All but three points scored by the home team came with fifth-year senior Aaliyah Alexander on the bench for head coach Lindy La Rocque.

Alexander gave the Lady Rebels a second quarter lead on a three-pointer as part of an 8-0 run. Soon after, she’d put her team up six on a three-point play.

At halftime, she accounted for 15 points on 5-for-6 from the field with two made threes on two tries.

With just under a minute and a half left in the third quarter, she reached 18 points which ties her outing against the Aztecs in the pair’s first meeting.

Sophomore Meadow Roland added 18 points of her own to go along with 15 rebounds coupled with a pair of blocks. Entering the game, she was named the Mountain West Player of the Week for the fourth time this season.

Fellow frontcourt presence Shelbee Brown hauled in 10 rebounds during her outing but would have trouble finding the scoresheet. She didn’t score her first points of the game until the second quarter on her way to five points.

Senior guard Jasmyn Lott was held in check once again, finishing the contest with eight points on 4-of-10 shooting.