Meadow Roland Emerges as Mountain West Player of the Year Contender

A Block Heard ‘Round the Pavilion (Image Credits: Pixabay)

Las Vegas – Sophomore forward Meadow Roland powered the UNLV Lady Rebels to a key victory with a commanding performance that highlighted her growing impact in the Mountain West Conference.

A Block Heard ‘Round the Pavilion

Grand Canyon guard Chloe Mann faced a nightmare fastbreak when she encountered 6-foot-2 Meadow Roland positioned perfectly in the paint. The Fresno native swatted away the layup attempt with authority, sending Mann tumbling and igniting the crowd at The Pavilion during the third quarter of UNLV’s 74-65 triumph over the Antelopes.

Roland capped her standout effort with 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, securing her 10th double-double of the campaign. Coach Lindy La Rocque could not hide her approval, flashing a rare smile at the defensive gem. Such plays underscore why Roland leads the conference in blocked shots at 1.6 per game.

Teammates rallied around her immediately, reinforcing the unity that has defined the Lady Rebels this season.

Explosive Back-to-Back Outings

Roland’s recent form showed no signs of slowing. Just days earlier, she erupted for a career-high 30 points and 12 rebounds in a hard-fought loss to Wyoming. Those two games alone amplified her profile as the team’s leading scorer.

Destiny Leo contributed 14 points as the second-highest scorer against Grand Canyon, while Shelbee Brown added 11 points before fouling out late. Roland credited her aggression in the paint and patience for the uptick in production. Dominating the interior has become her signature.

Top-Tier Conference Numbers

Roland’s statistics place her among the elite in the Mountain West. She ranks fifth in scoring at 13.9 points per game and second in rebounding with 9.1 boards per contest, trailing only teammate Brown’s league-leading 9.9.

Her defensive prowess stands out most prominently. No one blocks more shots than her 1.6 average. Last season, as a freshman, she earned both freshman of the year and sixth player of the year honors after averaging 11.4 points in conference play.

• Blocks per game: 1st (1.6)
• Rebounds per game: 2nd (9.1)
• Points per game: 5th (13.9)
• Double-doubles: 10 this season
• Career highs: 30 points vs. Wyoming

La Rocque Sees Player of the Year Potential

Coach Lindy La Rocque has long envisioned this trajectory. After last season’s accolades, she challenged Roland directly. “We met with Meadow after last season, and it was like, ‘This is great. You deserve these awards. What do you want to do next?'” La Rocque recalled. Player of the year topped the list.

Roland echoed the ambition without hesitation. “Player of the year,” she stated firmly, her serious expression softening into a smirk. La Rocque praised her work ethic amid heightened scouting attention. “It’s harder when you’re the top of the scouting report,” the coach noted. Still, she believes Roland’s consistency makes her undeniable. “I think if she continues to do what she does – I can’t vote for her, but it would be hard for me to think that other people wouldn’t.”

Embracing Leadership Post-Young

With Desi-Rae Young’s departure to professional basketball in 2024, La Rocque handed Roland significant leadership duties from the season’s outset. Young, the last Lady Rebel to claim conference player of the year in 2022 and 2024, shared Roland’s defensive fire and athleticism.

Roland has risen to the occasion. “Every game isn’t going to be perfect, and even when they aren’t, (my teammates) still have my back,” she observed. La Rocque attributes her recent surge to newfound comfort. “Why has she played so well lately? I think she feels a little free.”

Meadow Roland’s ascent signals a bright future for the Lady Rebels as they chase postseason success. Her blend of skill, stats, and leadership positions UNLV for contention. What are your thoughts on her player of the year chances? Share in the comments below.