San Diego State Overcomes UNLV in Overtime Thriller

San Diego State managed to outlast UNLV with a final score of 75-66 in overtime on Saturday, January 17 at The Pavilion. This victory marked the first Mountain West loss for the Lady Rebels in a game that initially saw both teams undefeated in league play. UNLV made a late push with a 10-0 run to force extra time, but SDSU’s strong performance and free throw shooting in overtime sealed the win.

Fast Start, Then a Freeze

UNLV started strong, taking an early 15-13 lead after the first quarter. However, the Lady Rebels had to work hard for it as Aaliyah Alexander picked up her second foul and was forced to sit. Shelbee Brown set the tone with a steal and fast-break layup, while Aaliyah Alexander added three early finishes at the rim and hit a 3-pointer to make it 13-5. But after Alexander picked up her second personal foul at 4:50, UNLV’s offense stalled, allowing SDSU to creep back into the game with paint buckets from Maria Konstantinidou and Alyssa Jackson.

Despite this, UNLV maintained its lead by dominating the paint (12 paint points) and forcing three Aztec turnovers in the quarter.

Second Quarter, Messy but Still in Front

UNLV took a 31-30 lead into halftime, but it came with plenty of self-inflicted issues. The Lady Rebels committed six turnovers in the quarter and 10 in the first half, allowing SDSU to stay close even when UNLV had chances to create separation.

UNLV found its footing briefly when Destiny Leo hit a 3-pointer off a Teagan Colvin assist at 9:45, and again when Meadow Roland made a second-chance 3 at 5:53. Mariah Elohim added another second-chance 3 at 1:45. However, the giveaways kept opening the door for SDSU. Kaelyn Hamilton scored off a steal at 6:56, and Nala Williams hit a 3 off a turnover at 3:12.

UNLV stayed afloat by winning extra possessions. The Lady Rebels grabbed five offensive rebounds in the quarter, and Brown secured the last one that mattered. She cleaned up the final sequence with an offensive rebound and a putback layup at 0:04 to send UNLV into the break with the lead.

Aztecs Catch Fire, Rebels Grind

SDSU turned the game around in the third quarter, taking a 51-46 lead into the fourth. They rode a barrage from the perimeter while UNLV struggled to string together stops and scores. SDSU opened the half with back-to-back 3s from Nat Martinez at 9:47 and 9:18, followed by Naomi Panganiban’s triple at 6:22 to keep the pressure on. UNLV answered behind Alexander’s interior work and a pair of baskets from Jasmyn Lott, but each push met another SDSU punch, including a 3 from Jackson at 5:17 and another Panganiban 3 at 4:40.

UNLV’s offense remained mostly in the paint. Alexander scored seven in the quarter, and Brown added a layup at 3:25, but UNLV went 0-for-1 from 3 and entered the final frame without a field goal in the last 3:04.

Fourth Quarter, Pure Chaos

UNLV looked stuck in the mud for most of the quarter, then pulled off a 10-0 run in the final minute to flip the game on its head. Mariah Elohim hit a 3 to start the run, then Shelbee Brown stole a pass and converted a layup as The Pavilion roared. The ending became even more chaotic. With the score tied late, SDSU’s Nat Martinez attempted an inbounds pass from near half court and hit the rim, giving UNLV the ball back. Lott attacked downhill and was fouled, keeping the game tight through a scramble of empty trips and rebounds.

In the final sequence, SDSU secured a third offensive rebound and drew a foul. Officials reviewed, reset the clock to 1.3 seconds, and ruled it a shooting foul. Kennedy Lee stepped to the line but missed both free throws, marking the first two misses of the night for SDSU at the stripe. UNLV used a timeout with 1.1 seconds left, couldn’t end it at the horn, and the teams headed to overtime tied 63-63.

Overtime, the Run Ran Out

UNLV never found its footing in the extra five minutes, and SDSU took control with clean offense and timely stops to pull away 75-66. The Aztecs scored 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting in overtime, getting six points from Bailey Barnhard on perfect 2-for-2 shooting and 4-for-4 at the line. Nat Martinez added four points, including two free throws in the final seconds, as SDSU finished a 12-2 run over the last 3:41.

UNLV managed only three points in overtime and went scoreless over the final 2:20. The Lady Rebels shot 1-for-5, missed both 3-point attempts, and committed five turnovers, including a late offensive foul that ended their last real chance to answer.

Up Next for the Scarlet and Grey

UNLV will remain at home for a Mountain West matchup against Air Force on Wednesday, January 21 at 6:30 p.m. PT at The Pavilion in Las Vegas. Following that, the Lady Rebels will travel to Reno for a road game at UNR on Saturday, January 24 at 1 p.m. PT. After that, UNLV will head to Albuquerque, N.M., for a game against New Mexico on Wednesday, January 28 at 6 p.m. PT.