LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kinesha Davis scored 20 points, including two free throws with 12 seconds remaining, to lead UNLV to a 59-56 victory over Loyola Marymount in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament on Thursday.

Loyola Marymount (21-10) had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds but Kate Murray's three-pointer bounced off the front of the rim.

The Lions, who shot a miserable 16.7 percent from the field in the first half, trailed 27-16 at intermission.

Loyola Marymount rallied in the second half, taking its only lead of the game, 50-49, on a three-point basket by Raelen Self with five minutes to play.

UNLV (19-9) immediately responded with a 6-0 run, capped by Davis' layup with 2:13 remaining.

After Loyola Marymount cut the lead to 57-54, the Rebels' Linda Frohlich missed the front end of a one-and-one. A Jasmine Matthews layup, with 15 seconds remaining, then cut the lead to 57-56 before Davis made her free throws.

Frohlich scored 14 points for UNLV and led all rebounders with 13.

Murray and Britton led Loyola Marymount scorers with 14 points apiece.