By Jarra Gojolo — Content Editor
When it comes to Vegas, three in a row always wins you something. This time, it’s a date with destiny.
SJSU completed a triumvirate of victories against UNLV on Monday, beating the hosts 67-48. The 19-point win is the largest margin of victory in the Mountain West Championship so far.
Four Spartans scored in double digits, with Ayzhiana Basallo leading the way with 18 points. Raziya Potter and Megan Anderson put in 12 points apiece, while Tyra Whitehead had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The game was back-and-forth for most of the first half, as the Spartans couldn’t find their offensive rhythm until almost halftime. Guard Megan Anderson drained two three-pointers within a minute to help give SJSU a cushion at the break.
In the second half, the Spartans turned up the defensive intensity.
SJSU outscored UNLV 25-3 in a nearly 10-minute period spanning the third and fourth quarters. While the Spartans had 12 turnovers in the half to the Rebels 11, they had a 12-3 advantage in points off turnovers.
Yesterday the Mountain West released their all-conference honors including Defensive Player of the Year, won by UNLV’s Bailey Thomas.
After the game, Basallo and guard Fieme’a Hafoka had words for Mountain West voters about the award.
“I’m not sure how the voting goes,” Basallo said. “But I know that Tyra Whitehead is a great defensive player. I think we have the best one in the conference.”
“Numbers don’t lie,” Hafoka added. “If you look back, you see the numbers, compare them.” Whitehead was second in the Mountain West in blocks and fifth in the conference in steals, the only player to be in the top five in both categories.
Forward Rodjanae Wade (26 points, 21 rebounds) was the Rebels’ lone bright spot of the day. The senior broke personal and conference records today, posting the first 20-point, 20-rebound game in tournament history and setting a career-high in rebounds.
In the final collegiate game of her career she did everything she could to keep her team level with the Spartans. She was her usual aggressive self on the glass, pulling down nine offensive boards.
Despite being the only Rebel in double-figure scoring, she says her visible fourth-quarter frustration wasn’t directed towards her teammates.
“I [feel] like we have a lot of weapons on our team,” Wade said after the game.
“I feel like at certain times I get frustrated with myself because of things I feel like I could do better. But it’s never within the team because I know that we’ll come together and we’ll make things work.”
The Spartans look to continue their two-way performance tomorrow, as they face a familiar foe in Fresno State at 6 p.m.
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