LAS VEGAS – If there’s one factor about head coach Lindy La Rocque’s Woman Rebels this yr that is for sure, it is that they may by no means cease competing.
UNLV ought to have been out for the depend when Arizona State’s Madison Morson drilled an unlimited nook triple to present the Solar Devils a 59-54 lead with 2:46 remaining within the fourth quarter at Cox Pavilion on Tuesday.
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In a carefully contested back-and-forth, even a touch of daylight could be sufficient separation. However the Woman Rebels did not fold.
Quickly to be down seven, Marley Washenitz — previously of ASU — and Meadow Roland got here up with a pair of gutsy jumpers to slice the Solar Devils’ result in simply three factors with 1:14 remaining. UNLV’s protection then locked in, giving the Woman Rebels the ball again with loads of time to work.
The following offensive possession ended with Trystan James attending to the free-throw line.
With an opportunity to make it a one-point sport chess match, James missed each makes an attempt, which finally proved decisive; UNLV misplaced 65-58. Nevertheless, the Woman Rebels’ total efficiency spoke volumes of the spirit and character of this group.
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“I used to be happy with our struggle,” La Rocque mentioned. “To have the ability to take that with us. We do not need to be put in that place [of playing from behind], however now we have the talents and the expertise to struggle again and make performs. [This was] a great opponent that challenged our toughness and various things that we need to proceed to get higher at… These are issues we won’t replicate in apply.”
The Woman Rebels by no means led by multiple early on and trailed by as many as 12 factors; nevertheless, the resolve to hold in there towards a nonetheless undefeated Solar Devils (3-0) aspect is a stable basis to construct on.
One other optimistic was the continued ascension of redshirt senior Jasmyn Lott offensively. She backed up her 22-point eruption from UNLV’s win over UTSA final Friday with a team-high 16 factors at the moment.
Lott’s elevated confidence confirmed in how purposefully she received to her spots, pulling down 5 of 12 tries from the sphere (2-of-5 3PT). She added three rebounds and two steals.
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“I believe the final sport helped her for certain,” La Rocque mentioned. “Simply that confidence and infusing that… And I believe it is our workers and simply her believing in us after we’re telling her issues and hopefully every sport that confidence continues to construct as a result of we’d like her to get to her spots, be aggressive, look to attain, all of the issues that she’s actually good at.”
As a unit, nevertheless, the Woman Rebels struggled with effectivity on offense, permitting the Solar Devils to achieve management of the sport. They completed 22-for-61 (36%) from the sphere and 7-for-27 (26%) from past the arc.
Meadow Roland and Marley Washenitz, like Lott, additionally shot 5-for-12. Roland posted 11 factors, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Washenitz made an amazing influence on each ends off the bench for a second straight sport. She chipped in 12 factors, six rebounds, and 4 steals. Freshman guard Jayla Fixed added 9 factors and 4 assists on 4-for-17 taking pictures.
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Lott poured in a fast 5 factors within the first quarter, however ASU took a 15-13 lead into the second. The guests’ sharpness gave them an early edge as they shot 47 % from the sphere to UNLV’s 26 %.
The Solar Devils prolonged their benefit to 32-24 at halftime with 4 of their starters having scored six or extra factors, led by Heloisa Carrera with 8. No one on the Woman Rebels had greater than three apart from Lott, who led all scorers with 10.
The hosts put collectively a wonderful third quarter to get proper again into the sport, outscoring ASU 22-16 to chop their result in two factors.
UNLV tied issues up with 1:12 remaining within the body, 46-46, on a pleasant back-door lower and end inside by Fixed, changing a go from Washenitz.
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The Woman Rebels matched the Solar Devils step for step within the fourth, however the guests had been capable of escape with the win after pulling down a pair extra clutch pictures down the stretch. Morson paced ASU with 17 factors on 7-for-10 taking pictures.
