LAS VEGAS – UNLV cannot plan on its shooters erasing an 18-rebound deficit. A last-minute basket saved the Lady Rebels at Grand Canyon, where they made half their shots and still nearly lost to a team that had won only once.
New Mexico, the Mountain West’s top offensive-rebounding team, visits The Pavilion on Saturday.
UNLV shot 50% and committed nine turnovers in Wednesday’s 61-60 win. Meadow Roland scored the winner with 11.3 seconds left, and the defense forced a turnover to deny GCU another shot. The 40-22 rebounding deficit nearly erased an otherwise efficient offensive night.
The Lady Rebels enter Saturday 6-5 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West. New Mexico is 9-3 and 1-0 after three straight wins. Tipoff is 1 p.m. Pacific at The Pavilion, the first game of a doubleheader before the men meet Fresno State at 4 p.m. The game will air on the Mountain West Network and locally on the Silver State Sports and Entertainment Network.
New Mexico has a stronger record and a rebounding advantage. The Lobos average 13.4 offensive boards, 42.1 total rebounds and a plus-6.4 margin, leading the league in all three categories in their pregame notes. They have outrebounded eight opponents and won each of those games.
Najjuma has collected 31 offensive rebounds among her 71 total. Her scoring average is only 2.6, so her most substantial production has come from recovering the ball. Against Arizona, she finished with 16 rebounds, including six at the offensive end, in New Mexico’s 72-69 road victory.
New Mexico beat Boise State 70-63 despite shooting 2-for-19 from three. The Lobos grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and scored 50 points in the paint.
Najjuma kept a fourth-quarter possession alive for a Joana Magalhães layup during a 12-0 run. Alyssa Hargrove then turned a steal into a pass to Nayli Padilla for the go-ahead layup. UNLV has to finish stops with rebounds and keep its own turnovers from giving New Mexico a short trip to the rim.
The Lobos also force UNLV to defend outside the paint. Through 12 games, they have made 99 of 322 threes, or 30.7%, while attempting 26.8 per game.
Padilla has made 25 threes and Laila Abdurraqib 20. Abdurraqib has converted 41.7% of her attempts, giving UNLV a second outside shooter to locate beside Padilla when the ball leaves New Mexico’s frontcourt.
New Mexico averages 18.3 turnovers and has committed 220 against 163 assists. New Mexico averages 11.3 steals per game, but the Lobos also give opponents opportunities to take possession before a shot. UNLV’s nine turnovers at Grand Canyon were fewer than its season average of 13.8.
Aaliyah Alexander had four assists against one turnover at Grand Canyon. She also opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play after UNLV fell behind 48-41.
Lott gives the Lady Rebels their most productive perimeter scorer at 14.5 points per game. She has led them in scoring in four straight games, shooting 44.3% overall and 39% from three. Her 20 points at Grand Canyon came on 9-for-18 shooting, including both of her outside attempts.
Mariah Elohim gives UNLV another outside option alongside Lott. She has made 17 of 43 threes this season.
The Lobos have held opponents to 27.1% from three and allowed only 4.9 makes per game. That is a stronger defensive shooting record than the one UNLV has established offensively from outside.
Hooks leads New Mexico at 14.7 points per game and has reached double figures in all 12 games. Antonio adds 10.0. Hooks scored 22 at Colorado and 24 against Texas Tech, both losses, giving the Lobos individual production even on afternoons when the team could not stay close.
New Mexico has outscored opponents by 112 points across first halves and won all nine games it led at halftime. UNLV scored only nine in the second quarter at Grand Canyon, turning an early lead into a halftime deficit. Saturday pairs an opponent that has often established an early advantage with a team that just needed a fourth-quarter recovery.
UNLV won both meetings last season. This time, Brown and Roland have to keep Najjuma and the Lobos off the offensive glass so the Lady Rebels can get the ball back to Lott and Elohim.
