AS VEGAS – With UNLV riding a 13-game winning streak, Fresno State gave the Lady Rebels all they could handle on Thursday night at Cox Pavilion until a go-ahead 3-pointer with just over 12.7 seconds remaining from Alyssa Durazo-Frescas. Falling 64-63, it was the Bulldogs' third one-point loss of the season.
For only the third time this season, four Bulldogs reached double figures. Keely Brown led the group with a career-high 19 points. The redshirt sophomore connected on an efficient 7-of-10 from the field, 3-of-5 from 3. UNLV got 22 points from Desi-Rae Young.
How It Happened
Trailing by five multiple times in the first, a baseline layup from Franka Wittenberg and triple from Keely Brown knotted up the game at 16-16 with 1:04 on the clock. A layup with under a second remaining put UNLV up two after one. Desi-Rae Young opened the second with back-to-back buckets to extend their lead but a 3-pointer from Brown started a 7-0 swing for the 'Dogs to go up 23-22. A 3 from Amiee Book with 4:01 remaining in the half extended the Bulldogs' lead to 26-23. UNLV regained its lead with 1:52 to go but four straight from the stripe for Yanina Todorova put the Bulldogs back ahead. Fresno State led 32-31 at the half after a UNLV floater at the buzzer.
The final 20 minutes were even tighter than the first as the team traded the lead 15 times and saw 11 ties. Neither led by more than 20 minutes. Tied at 59-59 with 56 seconds to play following a pair at the line from Young, Todorova drove left and gave the 'Dogs a two-point lead 20 seconds later. On their next possession, the Lady Rebels missed a jumper in the lane but were able to get to the offensive board. Following a timeout, an inbound pass to Young was kicked out to Alyssa Durazo-Frescas in the left corner that put UNLV ahead. Fresno State was unable to get a shot off in the final seconds as the ball was knocked out of Amaya West's hands while driving toward the bucket.
Notes
There were 23 lead changes in the game, the most in a contest this year for the Bulldogs. The previous high was 13 at Boise State on Jan. 19.
Fresno State had four players in double figures for the first time since Jan. 7 versus San Jose State.
The Bulldogs outrebounded UNLV 32-29, just the third time this season that the Lady Rebels have been outrebounded.
Fresno State shot 91.7 percent from the free throw line (11-of-12). It was tied for the second-highest mark of the year, and just the fourth time the 'Dogs have been over 90 percent.
Fresno State's 13 assists were its second-most in a game this year.
Keely Brown recorded a career high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 3-of-5 from 3, surpassing the 12 she had against Saint Mary's on Dec. 11, 2020.
It was Brown's first game in double figures this season.
Yanina Todorova scored 13 points, the 13th time this year that she has scored in double figures. The senior was 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
Amaya West's 11 points marked the 17th time she has reached double figures this season.
With 10 points, going 3-of-5 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3, Amiee Book reached double figures for the ninth time this year.
Next Up
Fresno State returns home to face second-place Colorado State on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT and air on CW59 and the Mountain West Network. During halftime, Fresno State will honor Bulldog great Yvette Roberts by retiring the three-time All-American's jersey.