LAS VEGAS — Jayda McNabb’s name has long been synonymous with rebounding. The Mountain West tacked on a new element to that reputation.

The conference on Saturday announced McNabb as the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, recognizing the junior in a season in which she finished second in the league with 2.24 steals per game.

“It was a surprise,” McNabb said. “There’s a lot of great defenders in the conference, so I was definitely feeling blessed to be honored as the Defensive Player of the Year.

“I didn’t realize that others see me that way. I do take pride in my defense, of course. It meant a lot that other people thought the same.”

McNabb’s rebounding reputation is well known. She ranks fifth in the program’s NCAA Division I history (since 1996-97) in rebounds and ranks in the top 10 nationally this season in offensive boards. But that tenacity gained notice in other areas.

“Jayda is relentless,” Air Force senior Emily Adams said. “Jayda never gives up. That’s what it’s like to face her. She never gives up on a play. She’s always there when you need her to be, and that’s why she’s Defensive Player of the Year.”

McNabb joins Cierra Winters (2021-22) as the only Falcons named Mountain West’s top defender.

Other top honors included Player of the Year for Nala Williams, a San Diego State senior; Newcomer of the Year for Colorado State senior guard Lexus Bargesser; Freshman of the Year for Nevada’s Skylar Durley; and Coach of the Year for San Diego State’s Stacie Terry-Hutson.

Perry earns All-Mountain West honors

Air Force’s Milahnie Perry earned a spot on the 10-player All-Mountain West team, the league announced on Saturday.

Air Force’s all-time leading scorer was also a selection as a sophomore, joining Alecia Steele (2006-08) as the only Falcons to earn All-Mountain West in multiple seasons.

Perry’s 17.14 points per game in Mountain West play led the conference. She followed that with 18 points Saturday in a 60-53 victory over Wyoming in the first round of the Mountain West tournament.

“I’m very thankful, and I’m very blessed just to see that everything worked out and all the hard work that I put in and that my teammates put in to help me get there paid off,” Perry said of the conference recognition.

Rematch on the way

Air Force will face Mountain West regular-season champion San Diego State in the quarterfinals on Sunday, the second meeting between the teams in less than a week after the Aztecs won 74-57 at Clune Arena on Tuesday.

San Diego State, which ranks second in the Mountain West with a 36.1% 3-point shooting percentage, made 65% from 3 in that game — a number that Air Force coach Stacy McIntyre said “better come down.”

“We have to come with that same mentality, realize that, hey, even the No. 1 seed is vulnerable,” McIntyre said Saturday after defeating Wyoming. “But you got to come out, play hard, take this momentum from this win into tomorrow.”