Another banner night as UNLV women clinch fourth straight MWC title

UNLV Lady Rebels guard Amarachi Kimpson (33) moves the ball against Creighton Bluejays forward Morgan Maly (30) during the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Los Angeles. Photo by Wade Vandervort

One minute it was a game, the next UNLV was hanging another banner.

The UNLV women used a 20-5 blitz late in the first half to put away Boise State, cruising to an 83-53 victory at Cox Pavilion that clinched a fourth consecutive Mountain West regular-season championship for the Scarlet and Gray.

UNLV is now 23-5 on the season and 15-1 in conference play, and for the fourth time in four years, Lindy La Rocque’s squad will head into the MWC tournament as the No. 1 seed and the prohibitive favorites.

While the job is not finished, La Rocque wants her players to embrace their shared accomplishment.

“I’m not really into reflecting right now, frankly, because we’ve got more in front of us,” La Rocque said, “but this is really special. I told them that when they’re my age, they will look back and realize how special this is.”

UNLV trailed, 23-20, with five minutes left in the second quarter when senior guard Kiara Jackson made a steal and sailed the other way for an uncontested layup. That play sparked the Scarlet and Gray to score 10 unanswered points, and by the time Jackson sank a pull-up 3 at the halftime buzzer UNLV had a commanding 40-28 advantage.

The lead expanded to 22 points in the third quarter and Boise State never got within shouting distance over the final 10 minutes, which allowed La Rocque to empty the bench and get everyone some clinching-game experience.

Sophomore guard Amarachi Kimpson exploded for 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting, and Jackson finished with 12 points and four assists. Freshman forward Meadow Roland notched 16 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Jackson and senior forward Alyssa Brown are the two players who have been on the roster for all four championships.

“It’s kind of unbelievable,” Brown said after posting three points and a team-high 10 rebounds. “I’m very proud of our group. Blessed to be in this position as someone who has been here four years and been a part of all of it. I’m super proud of the girls.”

Kimpson scored seven points during UNLV’s decisive run at the end of the first half, and La Rocque was glad to see her break out. Kimpson is the team’s leading scorer on the season at 12.7 points per game, but she hadn’t gone over her average since an overtime win at Wyoming on Jan. 19.

“She’s been quiet a little bit the last couple of weeks, and that’s just her as a young player,” La Rocque said. “I’ve been waiting for her to bust out and remind everyone, ‘Hey, I’m here guys.’ And I felt like she really did that. I thought it was the perfect time.”

Steady coaching like that is one of the reasons why La Rocque has been able to turn UNLV into the Mountain West’s dominant program — with the hardware to prove it.

Brown credited La Rocque as the foundation of the Scarlet and Gray dynasty, on and off the court.

“The amount of times I’ve cried to Lindy,” Brown said with a laugh. “She’s always there. She puts us in uncomfortable situations and I think, looking back, I’m grateful she did.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.