7, 2023, in Las Vegas. 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
UNLV senior Essence Booker was trying to radiate confidence as she strode to the free-throw line.

With simple seconds staying and the top-seeded Lady Rebels holding on to a one-point advantage, Booker required to sink her totally free throws to strengthen the group's lead in the Mountain West tournament semifinal.

No. 5 San Diego State was warming up. The Aztecs had actually struck 2 3-pointers in the span of 5 seconds after the Lady Rebels turned the ball over on a dive ball off an inbound pass. They fouled Booker with 6 seconds remaining, their hopes of an upset quite alive.

" I was just trying to not look stressed," Booker stated. "I felt in one's bones I needed to hold it together for my team."

She made both.

UNLV then blocked San Diego State's 3-pointer at the buzzer, securing a 71-68 win Tuesday at the Thomas && Mack Center. The No. 21 Lady Rebels (30-2) can lock up a 2nd straight NCAA Tournament berth by winning the Mountain West final against Wyoming at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Booker led all scorers with 22 points, consisting of 13 totally free tosses. Junior center Desi-Rae Young recovered from a quiet performance Monday with a 20-point, 13-rebound effort, and senior guard Justice Ethridge included 15 points on 70 percent shooting.

It's the first 30-win season in program history.

" We understood it was going to resemble that, a fight for 40 minutes," coach Lindy La Rocque stated.

UNLV and San Diego State (23-10) were connected at 33 at halftime. Young had 11 first-half points, and a step-back jumper from the best elbow by Ethridge beat the buzzer to pull the Lady Rebels level.

La Rocque's squad wasn't rather at its finest in the very first half. San Diego State punished UNLV in the low post, scoring 20 points in the paint generally through senior center Yummy Morris, who had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting before the break.

UNLV established its first substantial lead by outscoring the Aztecs 17-8 in the 3rd quarter. Ethridge discovered creases in the Aztecs' defense to get downhill and assault the basket. She scored 6 points in the quarter.

" Justice was bring," Booker said. "That's what she does. She's a quiet assassin, so we depended on her to do that, and she appeared today."

San Diego State reacted in the fourth quarter. The Aztecs eliminated a double-figure deficit with a barrage of 3s, making their very first 5 efforts after going 0-for-4 in the first 3 quarters.

UNLV responded to with Booker. The Las Vegas native had a hard shooting night, going simply 4-for-15 from the field, but she was clutch in the 4th quarter. She made a step-back mid-range jumper with 2 minutes staying, then drove down the lane and Euro-stepped past a protector for a layup to put UNLV up 63-59 with 33 seconds left.

Booker's best performance came at the free-throw line, where she went 13-for-14. The Spring Valley alum converted all eight of her fourth-quarter free tosses and ended up the period with 12 points. Beyond Booker, the remainder of the team went 10-for-19 from the charity stripe.

" She misses out on one or two of those, then it can get truly frightening," La Rocque said. "I'm simply pleased with our group from top to bottom for just truly battling."

Contact reporter Andy Yamashita at ayamashita@reviewjournal.com. Follow @ANYamashita on Twitter.

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What: Mountain West ladies's last

Where: Thomas & & Mack

TV: CBS Sports Network