Las Vegas, Nev. – The Hofstra Women's Basketball team fell to UNLV, 68-51, in the opening game of the Lady Rebel Round-Up at Cox Pavilion.
 
The Pride (2-3) and UNLV (4-0) battled in the first half before the Lady Rebels used a big third-quarter push to continue their unbeaten start. Senior Aleana Leon finished one rebound off a double-double, with 10 points and nine boards to lead Hofstra. The Pride got points from all nine players.
 
UNLV finished with three players in double figures including double-doubles from Nikki Wheatley (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Katie Powell (11 points, 11 rebounds), while Paris Strawther led all scorers with 16 points.
 
After the Lady Rebels had jumped out to a 6-2 lead, the Pride answered, with junior transfer Sica Cuzic's first points in a Hofstra jersey knotting the score at six. A layup from sophomore Marianne Kalin gave the Pride its first lead midway through the first quarter. The sides engaged in a back-and-forth battle for the remainder of the quarter, with UNLV taking a 14-10 lead into the second stanza.
 
Cuzic knocked down a left-corner three-pointer to shave the deficit to one early in the second. After the Lady Rebels had pushed the lead to 19-13, senior Aleana Leon was fouled on a made layup and made the free throw to complete the three-point play. The teams then traded treys before sophomore E'Lexus Davis drained one of her own to knot the score at 22. Leon then hit a long-range jumper to take the lead back for the Pride. UNLV used a 7-0 run to take a 31-27 lead into the break.
 
After the teams traded baskets in the opening moments of the third quarter, UNLV used a 14-4 run to take a 50-37 advantage into the fourth, helped by Katie Powell's nine third-quarter points. The Lady Rebels then outscored Hofstra, 18-14, in the final stanza to secure the win.
 
The Pride will play in the consolation game on Sunday at 12 p.m. against either Minnesota or Wake Forest.
 
Notes:
-Cuzic finished with eight points and three rebounds in her first game for Hofstra.
-Davis finished with five assists for the fourth time in five games.
-This was the first meeting between Hofstra and UNLV.