LAS VEGAS, Nev.  - The Southern Utah University women's basketball team dropped its season-opener 76-42 to UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Friday evening.

Seniors Challis Pascucci led the Thunderbirds (0-1) with a game-high 16 points while fellow senior Caitlyn Sears added 13 points. The UNLV (1-0) height advantage helped the Lady Rebels post a 57-38 rebound advantage and score 34 points in the paint as they took the season-opener from SUU for the second straight season.

Sears gave the Thunderbirds some early energy, opening with long jumper from left wing and Pascucci scored on nice lob entry pass from Tayler Anderson as the SUU defense kept it close early by forcing a couple turnovers.

UNLV would later to get the ball down to its post players to spurn a 21-4 run to extend its lead to 30-9 with seven minutes left in the half. Sears would provide a spark for the Thunderbirds, scoring SUU's final seven points of the half, rattling in a three from the left corner then driving the lane and hitting a jumper.

The Lady Rebels continued to answer with buckets of their own though, building a 32-21 rebound advantage and scoring 14 points off 11 SUU first-half turnovers to own a 38-20 lead at the break.

The second half saw the Thunderbirds trade buckets with UNLV for most of the second period as Pascucci caught fire, scoring SUU's first eight points. The Lady Rebels' inside presence would eventually wear down the young Thunderbirds. UNLV's front court combined for 34 points and five blocks even as SUU shot 33.3%- from the floor in the second half.

Southern Utah finished the game shooting 28.6% while they held UNLV to 35.4%. SUU had four freshmen record their first collegiate points with Angel Dorn hitting a three, Desiree Jackson had bucket, Carli Moreland hit a free throw and Meghan Ringer also had a basket and four rebounds.

Next up for the Thunderbirds is a trip to Boise, Ida. to face Boise State University at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.