COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — On paper, this is straightforward. In reality, it’s exactly the kind of Mountain West road game that punishes teams that drift from their identity.

Photo Credit – UNLV Athletics

The Lady Rebels open 2026 on the road Saturday, continuing conference play against the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. PT (1 p.m. MT), with the game streamed on the Mountain West Network.

UNLV arrives 8-5 overall and 3-0 in league play, riding a three-game winning streak and stepping into its second Mountain West road test. The first came Dec. 17 at Grand Canyon, a 61-60 grind that required patience, late-game execution, and defensive discipline. That game didn’t look pretty, and it wasn’t supposed to. It set the template.

Since then, the Lady Rebels have handled business at home, including an 85-59 win over Fresno State on New Year’s Eve. That game showed UNLV at its best: five players in double figures, steady separation over four quarters, and no reliance on a single scorer to carry the load. Mariah Elohim’s season-high 17 points led the way, but the story was balance.

That balance defines UNLV’s profile through 13 games. The Lady Rebels are averaging 67.2 points per game while allowing 64.1, good for a +3.2 scoring margin. They’re shooting 41.2% from the field, slightly better than their opponents, and holding a +2.0 rebounding margin at 38.5 boards per game. Nothing flashy. Just consistently better in the areas that travel.

The free-throw line has been a quiet separator. UNLV averages 11.3 made free throws per game, compared to 7.8 for opponents. In games that slow down, and this one will, those points matter.

Individually, UNLV’s production mirrors its identity. Jasmyn Lott leads the Lady Rebels at 13.8 points per game, shooting 43.5% from the field and nearly 40% from three, providing both scoring and stability. Meadow Roland follows closely at 13.6 points per game, adding 8.5 rebounds and interior presence. Aaliyah Alexander averages 11.2 points and sets the table offensively, while Shelbee Brown’s 9.2 rebounds per game anchor the paint and help finish possessions.

Air Force enters Saturday 7-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play, returning home after a 62-51 loss at San Diego State. The Falcons are 4-0 at Clune Arena, and their path to winning is clear, and uncomfortable for opponents.

Offensively, Air Force isn’t efficient. The Falcons average 57.8 points per game, shoot 35.8% from the field, and 27.3% from three. But they don’t need efficiency to stay competitive. They win the possession battle.

Air Force forces 18.5 turnovers per game, averages 10.1 steals, and carries a +3.5 turnover margin, converting those extra chances into 15.2 points off turnovers per night. That’s how games stay tight. That’s how better teams get dragged into the mud.

Senior Milahnie Perry is the offensive engine, averaging 16.2 points per game and ranking among the Mountain West’s top scorers. Junior Jayda McNabb is the structural piece. She is one of the league’s most impactful rebounders, averaging 8.5 boards per game, including 4.8 offensive rebounds, which leads the conference and ranks among the national leaders. McNabb already has four double-doubles this season while shooting better than 50% from the field.

The contrast is clear. UNLV wants clean possessions, paint touches, and controlled pressure. Air Force wants chaos without speed by creating turnovers, second chances, and free points at the margins.

Ball security will be the pivot. UNLV averages 13.8 turnovers per game, and Air Force is built to punish carelessness. Defend without fouling, rebound to finish possessions, and value the ball.. that’s the checklist.

History favors UNLV. The Lady Rebels are 52-5 all-time against Air Force and have won 24 straight meetings, including a road win in Colorado Springs last season. But January road games don’t care about history. They care about execution.

After Saturday, UNLV returns home to host Utah State on Wednesday, while Air Force continues its homestand against Boise State. Before that, the task is simple, and difficult.

Stay disciplined. Control possessions. Let balance win out.

If UNLV does that, the separation will come…not all at once, but steadily, the way conference road wins usually do.