The defending Mountain West champions picked up right where they left off.
UNLV opened its 2025-26 season with a 64-51 win over Washington State, leading for more than 33 minutes and holding the Cougars scoreless over the final 2:20 to seal another statement win for head coach Lindy La Rocque.
“It’s a win, you know? I’m just really proud of our group,” La Rocque said.
“Washington State’s a great, physical team. It wasn’t our prettiest game, but we made big-time plays, got to the free-throw line, and executed when we needed to.”
First Quarter – Setting the Tone
Washington State struck first, but the Lady Rebels quickly took control. Meadow Roland went to work inside with two early buckets, Aaliyah Alexander attacked the rim to draw fouls, and Jasmyn Lott calmly hit free throws to steady the offense.
Mariah Elohim added a mid-range jumper, and Shelbee Brown muscled in a put-back as UNLV’s rebounding edge became clear, with seven offensive boards in the opening frame.
End 1Q: UNLV 16, WSU 12
Second Quarter – Trading Blows
Both offenses found rhythm. Lott buried a three from the right wing, Roland hit two free throws, and Alexander kept living at the stripe.
When WSU’s Tanja Valancic tied it at 27-27 with a triple, UNLV answered immediately. Destiny Brown finished a layup and Shelbee Brown sank two free throws to send the Rebels into halftime up 31-29.
Halftime: UNLV 31, WSU 29
Third Quarter – Separation by Defense
UNLV’s calling card took over. The Rebels forced five turnovers and limited the Cougars to eight points on 4-of-15 shooting. Alexander hit a turnaround jumper, Roland scored on three straight trips, and Erica Collins closed the period at the line. Roland’s interior dominance, six points and three boards in the quarter, pushed the lead to 47-37 entering the fourth.
Fourth Quarter – Lady Rebels Blow It Open
WSU’s Eleonora Villa hit two quick jumpers to trim the gap to six, but UNLV’s veterans slammed the door.
Alexander answered with a pull-up jumper and two free throws, Elohim cashed a transition jumper off a steal, and Roland hit from mid-range.
Then came the knockout:
Lott drilled a baseline jumper and stayed perfect at the line (8-for-8).
Alexander buried a dagger three with 2:20 left to stretch it to 64-49.
The defense shut out WSU the rest of the way.
Final: UNLV 64, WSU 51
Coach’s Perspective
La Rocque emphasized balance and resilience across her core trio.
“To have 17, 17, and 18 between Meadow, Jasmyn, and Aaliyah, that’s terrific,” she said. “I don’t always care who scores; I just want points on the board. That’s pretty good balance.”
On Lott’s return after missing all of last season:
“She’s been working really hard. A career-high 17 points, perfect from the line — that’s the Jazz we know. And she’ll be the first to tell you she can play even better, which is scary.”
And on choosing stability in Las Vegas after signing her extension:
“I want to be present where I am. I don’t idolize any other job or location. I’m here. I love it here. This is the best place to be.”
Lott’s Return: “Scratching the Surface”
For Lott, the night was more than a box-score milestone.
“It was really nice,” she said. “We played good, we got the win, that being the result for my first game back is really great.”
The veteran guard noted how quickly the retooled roster meshed.
“We clicked very fast. Everybody gets along on and off the court, and that transfers on the floor too.”
On studying from the sideline last season:
“You can’t do anything without everybody else. I wouldn’t be here without our support staff, coaches, or teammates. Leaning into that makes all the difference.”
Team Comparison
Category | UNLV | WSU |
|---|---|---|
FG % | 33.3 (19-57) | 37.5 (21-56) |
3PT % | 18.2 (2-11) | 20.0 (4-20) |
FT % | 82.8 (24-29) | 83.3 (5-6) |
Rebounds | 42 | 34 |
Offensive Reb. | 18 | 12 |
Turnovers | 12 | 20 |
Points Off TO | 20 | 5 |
2nd-Chance Pts | 18 | 2 |
Paint Pts | 22 | 18 |
Final Takeaway
UNLV looked every bit like a seasoned contender by dictating tempo, dominating the boards, and holding Washington State to zero points in the final 140 seconds.
The trio of Alexander (18 pts), Roland (17 pts, 9 reb), and Lott (17 pts, 8-for-8 FT) combined for 52 points, while La Rocque’s bench provided defensive depth and second-chance energy.
The Lady Rebels (1-0) host DePaul on Sunday, aiming to extend their home streak and continue climbing toward another Mountain West crown.
“This is just scratching the surface,” La Rocque said. “We’ll enjoy it tonight — then get back to work.”
