LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Defending Mountain West Conference champion UNLV jumped out to an early lead en route to defeating Utah Valley University, 82-36, on Wednesday in Cox Pavilion.

Kayla Anderson led the Wolverines (1-2) with nine points points while Jaeden Brown added eight. The Rebels (3-0) got a game-high 16 from Desi-Rae Young while both Essence Booker and Alyssa Brown added 15 each. UNLV had a 47-21 edge on the glass with Young's nine rebounds leading all players. 

Brown knocked down a jumper to get UVU within four early, 10-6, but the Rebels were hot, converting on eight of their first 11 attempts and using a 16-0 run over the final five minutes of the quarter to lead 26-6 lead after one. UNLV was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and made 10-of-16 overall in the opening frame
 
Eleyana Tafisi scored all six of her points in the second quarter as the Wolverines played the Rebels to a 14-10 quarter and trailed 40-16 at the break. UNLV shot 53.1% (17-for-32) in the opening half while Utah Valley made just 8-of-24 (33.3%).
 
Kayla Anderson sparked a 7-2 run in the third quarter including five straight points capped by a bucket and free throw. She later buried a jumper on an assist from Ally Criddle to make it 44-23 at the 6:34 mark of the third. Criddle later hit a 3-pointer to make it a 50-28 game, but the Rebels ran off 13 straight and took a 65-30 lead into the fourth. The Rebels were able to get to the line 12 times in the quarter, making nine of those.  
 
Saige Gibb got on the board with her first career points in the fourth, intercepting a pass on the defensive end and going all the way for two on the other end. The Wolverines will now face in-state foe Weber State on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT in the Dee Events Center. The game can be seen live on ESPN+.