The UNLV Lady Rebels basketball team secured a spot in the Mountain West Championship semifinals with an 80-70 victory over Boise State. According to reports from UNLV Athletics, as the No. 1 seed, the Lady Rebels rallied from behind to extend their streak to four consecutive seasons in the semifinals.
Amarachi Kimpson led the comeback with a career-high 29 points, which helped shift the momentum in the third quarter, according to News 3 Las Vegas. She shot 12-for-18 from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Aaliyah Alexander added 14 points and recorded three assists, while Kiara Jackson contributed 12 points and 5 rebounds, including key baskets in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Rebels faced a challenging opponent in Boise State, who had three players scoring in double digits, including Tatum Thompson with 25 points. The final quarter proved decisive, with UNLV trailing by just two possessions. The Lady Rebels regained the lead, as Kimpson’s back-to-back baskets reduced Boise State’s lead, and Jackson’s consecutive shots put UNLV in front.
In a tense game, head coach Lindy La Rocque highlighted the team's resilience and their ability to secure a victory, even when the outcome was uncertain. "the togetherness that it took to pull out this win was tremendous. A lot of things did not go our way today from missed layups to just plays that we normally make, just to step off defensively, and got out rebounded. You can kind of go down the line. But frankly, we had more points. We found a way to win, and I think that's the heart of this team all year long is, they find a way," La Rocque told UNLV Athletics. La Rocque discussed the challenge posed by Boise State and their coach, Gordy Presnell, noting the strong performance of the Broncos, while also recognizing her team’s determination.
With this win, UNLV ties for the second-longest win streak in the tournament’s history, with ten consecutive MW Tournament victories, and will face No. 4 seed San Diego State in the semifinals. The victory also marked the Lady Rebels' third win over Boise State this season, two of which involved come-from-behind efforts. UNLV outscored Boise State 36-30 in the paint and scored 14 points off of 17 Boise State turnovers. Despite being out-rebounded 43-35, UNLV secured the win and advanced to the next stage of the tournament.
