A Lesson in Resilience and Growth

Lindy La Rocque, the head coach of the UNLV women’s basketball team, found reason to smile on a Saturday that saw her squad fall to San Diego State in an overtime battle for the top spot in the Mountain West Conference. The loss, which came with a final score of 75-66, marked the Lady Rebels’ first defeat since they closed out a challenging nonconference schedule on December 13 with a 5-5 record.

La Rocque acknowledged the emotional impact of the loss, but she also emphasized the importance of perspective. “We kind of forgot what it felt like to get punched,” she said, her grin widening as she reflected on the game. “So this isn’t a bad reminder. It’s not a bad reminder. It’s not even February yet.”

The locker room was filled with disappointment, with players wishing they could have made different plays, according to La Rocque. She addressed the team’s energy after the loss, asking them if it felt like March, implying that the season is still in its early stages.

La Rocque has experience with success during the springtime. Under her leadership, the Lady Rebels won three consecutive conference tournament championships over four years. However, that streak ended last year when San Diego State eliminated UNLV from the semifinals, eventually winning the championship and securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Despite entering the game with a 7-0 record in conference play, UNLV was already being written off by ESPN’s women’s basketball bracketology expert, who favored San Diego State as the team most likely to make the NCAA Tournament. The loss was a missed opportunity for UNLV to prove their resilience and potential.

However, there are still two more chances for the Lady Rebels to face San Diego State this regular season. “We get them again at their place,” La Rocque said. “So this doesn’t decide the conference championship, but it was a great game.”

Until then, the team has work to do. “Maybe it’s good to feel some of that disappointment, but then come back Monday and fix it. Fix it. That’s the message.”

Key Issues to Address

There are several areas where the Lady Rebels need improvement. Guard Aaliyah Alexander led the team with 18 points, but the team struggled with turnovers, giving up 24 compared to San Diego State’s 16. La Rocque noted that Alexander, who is now playing point guard, has only three months of experience in that role. “You saw some of that,” she said.

Another issue was the inability to counter San Diego State’s strong defense, which became especially evident in overtime when the Lady Rebels were outscored 12-3. “We kind of got scrambled in a panic and then tried to do some different things to try to make up some points and see if they’d make a mistake, and they didn’t,” La Rocque explained.

Despite the loss, the team showed signs of resilience. Forward Shelbee Brown, who scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, expressed confidence in her teammates. She also hit a key layup to send the game into overtime. “I think we’re a good team and we’re going to do better next time,” Brown said. “We can do what we want at will, and we can guard. We just need to score just a little bit better under pressure.”

Looking Ahead

La Rocque hopes that both teams continue to win so that the stakes remain high when they meet again in San Diego on February 18. “I’d love to be playing them at their place and maybe they’re undefeated, maybe they’re not,” she said. “But with the same first place (title) on the line, I’d love that.”

As the season progresses, the Lady Rebels will need to address their weaknesses and build on their strengths. With more opportunities ahead, the team has the chance to prove themselves once again.