LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Virginia Commonwealth University led for the majority of the game but couldn't hold on during the final four minutes as UNLV rallied past the Rams for a 68-66 victory in the opening round of the Duel in the Desert Tournament at Cox Pavilion.

"I thought we had spurts where we came in and did well executing, but we relaxed too much on the defensive end of the floor as well as on the boards," said VCU Head Coach Beth Cunningham. "We felt coming in that rebounding was going to be a key. They dominated the boards, especially in the second half. We gave ourselves a chance on the offensive end to win the game, but we just didn't get it done. We didn't do what we needed to do tonight."

VCU used a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures as senior guard La'Tavia Rorie registered a team-high 18 points. Senior guard Kita Waller scored 14, senior forward D'Andra Moss added 12 and sophomore forward Courtney Hurt chipped in 11 points off the bench for the Rams.

Kelli Thompason paced UNLV with a game-high 22 points, while Erica Helms contributed 14 points for the Lady Rebels.

The Rams went up 57-56 on a jumper by Hurt with four minutes remaining before UNLV used a 9-2 run to pull ahead by 65-59, the Lady Rebels' largest lead of the game, with 46 seconds showing. VCU responded scoring seven of the next eight points, capped off by a tip-in from senior guard Kita Waller with 15 seconds left, to tie the game at 66-66.

On the ensuing possession, Thompson scored the game-winner on a jumper with two seconds remaining for UNLV. After the basket, junior guard Ebony Patterson took an inbounds pass and nearly hit a 3-pointer from 25-feet out as time expired.

VCU trailed just three times the entire first half. The Rams held a 22-19 advantage with 9:15 remaining in the opening period before scoring seven-straight to pick up their largest lead of the game at 29-19. UNLV answered with an 11-0 spurt to take a 30-29 advantage with 3:45 to go before the half. VCU reeled off the next eight points and took a 38-30 lead into the locker room.

After winning the rebounding battle in five of its first seven games of the season, VCU was outrebounded 42-28. The Rams forced the Lady Rebels into 24 turnovers, while committing a season-low 11.

VCU will face the loser of Kansas State/Hawaii on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. EST in the second round of the Duel in the Desert Tournament.