UNLV Lady Rebels vs Arizona State ended in heartbreak for UNLV, as a deep 3-pointer with four seconds left lifted Arizona State to a 56–53 win on Saturday in Tempe. The Lady Rebels had tied the game moments earlier and held the Sun Devils to 18.7% shooting in the first quarter, but they could not escape their third straight close loss.
Lady Rebels Build Early Lead Before ASU Surges Back
UNLV opened strong and controlled the first quarter with balanced scoring. Meadow Roland anchored the early push with tough interior defense and rebounding, and Jasmyn Lott added timely perimeter shooting. The Lady Rebels led by as many as seven and carried a 12–7 edge into the second quarter.
Arizona State responded with a 21-point second period, using its size and midrange touches to create a 28–24 halftime lead. Despite the shift, UNLV stayed within reach by forcing turnovers and generating clean looks from the arc.
UNLV Rallies Behind Roland and Elohim
Momentum swung again in the third quarter. The Lady Rebels found rhythm behind Roland’s interior finishing and Mariah Elohim’s perimeter burst, which included back-to-back 3-pointers that cut the deficit to three. UNLV tied the game at 41 late in the period and pushed the tempo to keep the Sun Devils off balance.
The fourth quarter featured six ties and four lead changes. UNLV took a 45–44 edge on a layup from Shelbee Brown, then tied the game again at 50 on Roland’s 3-pointer with 2:48 left. Lott hit another from deep with 1:51 remaining, setting up a tense final minute.
ASU’s Final Shot Breaks the Deadlock
Arizona State regained possession with the shot clock off. After a timeout, the Sun Devils freed Marley Washenitz, who drained a contested 3-pointer from the right wing with four seconds remaining. The Lady Rebels advanced the ball after a timeout, but Roland’s tying attempt from the left wing rimmed out at the buzzer.
After the game, assistant coach Mia Bell said the final shot was not what determined the outcome.
“We had plenty of opportunities,” Bell said. “But our fight and toughness — I’m proud of that. We hold them to 56 points, and if you told me that before the game, I’d feel great about it.”
She added that execution, not effort, remains the key step forward.
“It’s not about the other team,” she said. “It’s about us taking pride in the little details for 40 minutes. We played hard the whole way. Now we need to clean up the execution.”
Lady Rebels Prepare for Two-Game Holiday Homestand
The Lady Rebels return home for the UNLV Thanksgiving Turkey Tip-Off at the Thomas & Mack Center. They face Creighton on Wednesday at noon, followed by Northern Iowa on Friday afternoon. UNLV enters the event at 2–3 after a 2–0 start and three straight close finishes.
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