CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah women's basketball took their first lead of the game halfway through the second half, which guided the Thunderbirds to a 93-84 win over UNLV.
The Rebels took a quick lead over SUU before Jessica Richardson drained back-to-back jumpers, which was followed by a three from Hailey Mandelko to put the Thunderbirds within two, 10-12.
UNLV enjoyed a 17-6 run before Marquelle Funk hit a three followed by a layup from Richardson to decrease the Rebel's lead, 37-28. The Thunderbird scoring spree continued with a three and a pair of free throws from Desiree Jackson.
Southern Utah rounded out the first half with a buzzer shot from Madison Wright to trail the Rebels just 44-50 at halftime.
Funk led the T-Birds in scoring in the first half with 13 points as Jackson added nine points and four assists.
The Thunderbirds launched the second half with a three from Funk followed by a layup by Gates to trail UNLV just 49-50. The teams tied at 65 and 67 before a fast-break layup from Eva Georgieva gave Southern Utah its first lead of the game at 69-68.
“I knew it was going to come down to the wire and that we were going to have to execute the whole way through,” head coach Chris Boettcher said. “I knew we would have a shot at the end and that we would execute.”
UNLV responded with a five-point scoring streak to regain its lead at 73-69. Mandelko knocked in six-straight free throws to put the Thunderbirds within one point of the Rebels.
“In the second half we came out and did what we were supposed to do,” Funk stated. “It worked.”
Southern Utah took advantage of free throws to pull ahead of UNLV, 88-81 with just over a minute remaining. The Thunderbirds held onto their lead to clench a 93-84 win over the Rebels.
“I knew that we were going to have a really good shot at the end,” Boettcher commented. “They were getting tired and we got momentum.”
Funk and Jackson led the Thunderbirds with 24 each with Mandelko chipping in 14. Southern Utah shot 78.6% from the free throw line and 92.3% in the second half.
With the win against the Rebels, SUU moves to 3-0 on the season against Mountain West Conference opponents.
Southern Utah is back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 16, as they host Westminster at 7 p.m. in the Centrum Arena.
