Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -

UNLV 69, Utah State 61

Despite a strong second half comeback, Utah State women's basketball dropped its Wednesday contest against UNLV, falling 69-61 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Freshman guard Funda Nakkasolgu was the leading scorer for USU Wednesday, tallying 19 points. Freshman guard Tilar Clark was next behind her with nine points, while junior guard Mariah Miles added a career-best eight points. Junior forward Tijana Djukic was the top rebounder for the Aggies with nine. For the Lady Rebels, Danielle Miller held strong to her conference-leading scoring streak with 21 points on the night.

With the loss, USU falls to 7-20 overall with a 4-11 Mountain West record. UNLV won its fifth-straight game, improving to an even 13-13 overall and 10-5 among league opponents.

The game was slow to get rolling for both teams as neither team scored for a three-minute period. At the first media timeout, Utah State led, but just 4-2. Once UNLV got the lead, it kept it for the remainder of the night. Alana Cesarz scored the first seven points for the Lady Rebels, before Miller snapped her streak with a free throw and a 3-pointer. UNLV proceeded to have an 11-0 scoring streak, before Nakkasolgu led the Aggies back to within one by the next break.

Playing a very defensive game, fouls were an issue on both sides of the court early on. Senior forward Ingrida Strikas had two quick calls against her, while the team put UNLV in the bonus before the midpoint of the first half. The Lady Rebels also tallied several early fouls, giving the Aggies the bonus advantage at the 6:46 mark.

The second portion of the first half was a series of alternating runs for both USU and UNLV. An 18-2 Lady Rebels run was broken up only by a layup from freshman center Hannah Hutchins. In that stretch, UNLV found a 17-point lead, its largest of the half. The Aggies answered with a 10-0 run of their own, led by four made free throws and a pair of shots from junior guard/forward Julianne Anchling. The run was snapped by two made UNLV shots, sending the Lady Rebels into the halftime break with a 40-29 lead.

Utah State came out of the break strong, opening the second half on a 7-0 run and pulling within four of the Lady Rebels, before a Cesarz trey ended the Aggies' streak. Strikas added her first points of the game, tying the game at 42, but two-straight 3-point shots from Brooke Jonhnson put the Lady Rebels back on top.

From there, each time Utah State mounted a comeback, it was rebutted by a UNLV hot streak. Miller and Cesarz continued their strong games throughout the second half, each almost doubling their point totals. Miles added three-straight free throws for the Aggies, while senior forward Franny Vaaulu and senior guard Elise Nelson were able to get on the board in the final stretch. Nakkasoglu scored the final points for the Aggies on the night with a layup and a pair of free throws. As USU fouled UNLV in the hopes of getting possession back, the Lady Rebels made five free throws in the final minute of play to secure the eight-point victory.

Overall, Utah State shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the field, 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from three and 76.0 percent (19-of-25) from the free throw line. UNLV shot 34.8 percent (23-of-66) from the field, 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from three and 64.0 percent (16-of-25) from the free throw line.

Utah State returns to Logan next for the final homestand of the 2015 season. The Aggies host Air Force on Saturday, Feb. 28 for a 2 p.m. (MT) tip, followed by Wyoming on Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. (MT). Prior to the game against the Cowgirls, USU will honor its four seniors, Franny Vaaulu, Ingrida Strikas, Jasmine Porter and Elise Nelson.

Aggie women's basketball tickets will be available by contacting the USU Athletics Ticket Office at (435) 797-0305 or at 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) for more information or visit the Utah State athletics web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Fans can follow USU women's basketball on Twitter, @UtahStateWBB, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter.com, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.