Dec. 18, 2001
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THIS WEEK
vs. Eastern Washington * Dec. 19 at 7:35 p.m.
vs. Tennessee, Martin * Dec. 21 at 7:35 p.m.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
After three weeks on the road, the UNLV women's basketball team returns home to the Cox Pavilion with two non-conference games on the agenda this week. The Lady Rebels, who are currently 8-1 overall, host Eastern Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 19 and Tennessee, Martin on Friday, Dec. 21. With a 3-0 undefeated record at home, UNLV looks to extend that streak to five. Both games tip-off at 7:35 p.m. and can be heard live in Las Vegas on KENO 1460 AM and via an Internet link on unlvrebels.com.
FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND AHEAD
A five-game homestand from Dec. 19-Jan. 4 is ahead for the Lady Rebels. The first game of the series will be this week's games against Eastern Washington and Tennessee, Martin. After a four-day break for the Christmas holiday, the Lady Rebels will make a return to the Thomas & Mack Center to play UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Dec. 30, prior to the men's basketball game versus Old Dominion. UNLV rings in the New Year with Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Jan. 2 and Northern Arizona on Jan. 4, 2002.
KIDS NIGHT PROMOTION
With Christmas just around the corner, UNLV will host Lady Rebel Kids Night on Friday, Dec. 21 in the Cox Pavilion at 7:35 p.m. Sponsored by Gameworks, the night willl include: (1) free admission to the UNLV women's basketball game against Tennessee, Martin, (2) free T-shirts to the first 200 kids, (3) free gameplay cards from Gameworks to the next 500 kids, (4) a visit from Santa Claus and (5) autographs with the Lady Rebels. Tickets are $5 for adults and FREE for kids age 13-and-under. Kids will also have a chance to be part of the show as a National Anthem Singer, Stadium Announcer, Referee, Assistant Coach, TV Reporter, Radio Broadcaster and Band Conductor. For more information on tickets, call 895-UNLV.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Eastern Washington (3-8): The Eagles are coming off a 1-1 weekend taking a win against St. Martin's College, 80-67, and dropping to Boise State, 74-55. Sophomore forward Kathleen Nygaard leads the team in scoring with 14.3 ppg and 7.9 rpg. They are led by first year head coach Wendy Schuller, who looks to direct the Eagles into a new era of basketball. Their three wins this season have come against Hartford (67-50), Cal State Fullerton (67-50) and the most recent win at St. Martin's.
Tennessee, Martin (2-8): The Skyhawks are on a stretch of eight consecutive road games with one more remaining against UNLV this week. Looking for their third win of the season, UT Martin recently lost in overtime to Ohio University, 97-87, on Dec. 18. The Skyhawks have played tough opponents in LSU, Evansville and Southern Illinois. A member of the Ohio Valley Conference, UT Martin's current scoring leader is Amy Watson, a 5-11 junior guard averaging 11.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
SERIES HISTORY
UNLV leads the all-time series with Eastern Washington, 2-0. Both teams last met on Dec. 9, 2000 with the Lady Rebels claiming an 81-72 victory on the Eagles' home court in Cheney, Wash. The win was a special milestone for UNLV coach Regina Miller, who collected her 100th career victory and 40th win with the Lady Rebels. The UNLV-UT Martin matchup will be a first time meeting between both schools.
TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE
Co-Head Coaches Gary and Kim Van Atta have shared the coaching duties at Tennessee, Martin for the last six years. They have tabulated a 75-78 (.490) record to-date with the Skyhawks. They are one of just a few husband and wife teams to coach a Division I women's basketball program. Back in 1982-1988, former UNLV co-head coaches Sheila Strike and Jim Bolla combined for an impressive 142-43 record (.767), one of the most successful periods for the Lady Rebels.
UNLV COACH REGINA MILLER
Regina Miller enters her fourth season as head coach. In the Miller Era, the Lady Rebels have posted three consecutive winning seasons, with last year's team making their first postseason tournament appearance since 1994. Miller has compiled a current 61-34 (.642) career winning record at UNLV, the best coaching record in the last decade of the program. With the success she has established in a short period of time in Las Vegas, Miller is looking to keep the program heading in an upward direction in 2001/02.
MWC NOTEBOOK
The Mountain West Conference posted a 9-1 record last week and moved up to No. 6 in the latest WBCA/RPI report. In the latest Associated Press poll, Colorado State moved up to No. 17, while UNLV and New Mexico received votes. In the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches poll, Colorado State is ranked No. 15 , while Utah and UNLV received votes.
OUT IN FRONT
The Lady Rebels are ranked third nationally after wearing down their last eight opponents with a scoring margin of 27.1 points. They follow right behind top-ranked Connecticut (38.3) and North Carolina (27.5). UNLV also ranks sixth in the nation in scoring defense (53.3) and average margin of victory (33.1).
FR?HLICH ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER
Senior WBCA/Kodak All-American Finalist and two-time All-American (Honorable Mention) Linda Fr?hlich eclipsed the UNLV all-time scoring record of 1,892 points held by former Lady Rebel Misty Thomas (1982-86). The 15-year-old record went down after Fr?hlich posted a double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds against intrastate rival Nevada, Reno on Dec. 9. Not to any surprise, Fr?hlich continues to lead the Mountain West Conference in points and rebounds with 22.6 ppg and 11.2 rpg. She could become the first Lady Rebel to reach 2,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds.
LADY REBEL CAREER SCORING LEADERS
Games Points Avg.1. Linda Fr?hlich (1998-Present) 91 1,960 21.52. Misty Thomas (1982-86) 114 1,892 16.63. Pauline Jordan (1987-90) 98 1,688 17.24. Teresa Jackson (1989-93) 120 1,669 13.95. Angela Christian (1983-87) 123 1,631 13.36. Donya Monroe (1982-86) 120 1.514 12.67. Gwynn Hobbs (1991-95) 113 1,504 13.38. Geannine Jordan (1986-90) 126 1,356 10.89. Kathie Calloway (1978-82) 110 1,319 11.910. Vicki Lander (1987-1991) 126 1,242 9.9
WINNING WAYS
UNLV is one of the top 50 all-time winningest teams by percentage in NCAA history. The Lady Rebels are ranked 34th right behind perennial power Connecticut with a .662 winning percentage over 27 years of play. Since its beginning in 1974-75 and prior to the 2001-02 season, UNLV has compiled a 503-257 overall record.
THREE TIMES THE CHARM
Senior Erin Johansson tied her own school record of seven 3-pointers made in a single game. Against Nevada, Reno, Johansson connected on 7-of-7 treys to finish the rivalry game with a career-high 23 points to lead all scorers. She is shooting .421 from 3-point range this season, which is sixth among conference leaders in that particular scoring category.
THE PLAYMAKER
Junior Constance Jinks currently leads the Mountain West Conference in assists, averaging 5.62 per game. She would record a career-high nine assists against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 25 and Nevada, Reno on Dec. 9. Jinks has 197 career assists to-date, which ranks 20th in the all-time record books.
LADY REBELS ON THE AIR
The 2001/02 season marks the 18th year and 15th consecutive season that Lady Rebel basketball games will be broadcast over the radio waves. It will also be the third year for all of the women's basketball schedule to be heard over the Internet and throughout the world on www.unlvrebels.com. Bob Blum, the dean of West Coast broadcasters, begins his 15th season calling play-by-play for Lady Rebel Basketball on KENO 1460 AM. Joining him for her fifth season on air will be former Lady Rebel Cheryl Kosewicz. Blum will host the Regina Miller Show 10-minutes prior to the tip for each game.
LADY REBELS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION
The Lady Rebels will enjoy their share of radio and television coverage in the 2001/02 season. An ESPN2 game at New Mexico on Jan. 6, 2001 highlights the schedule, meanwhile KTUD, UPN Channel 25 * Cable 14, will continue their television coverage of Lady Rebel Basketball with Tim Neverett and Trip Mitchell calling the action for a total of eight games this season (tape delays).
USA TODAY / ESPN COACHES TOP 25
1. Connecticut (37), 10-02. Tennessee (3), 7-03. Vanderbilt, 10-14. Oklahoma, 10-05. Iowa State, 9-06. Stanford, 8-17. Purdue, 8-18. Georgia, 7-09. Duke, 8-210. Baylor, 10-011. Louisiana Tech, 3-312. Colorado, 9-213. Michigan, 9-114. Texas Tech, 5-215. Colorado State, 8-116. North Carolina, 9-117. North Carolina State, 6-318. Wisconsin, 9-119. Texas, 7-120. Florida, 6-321. Tulane, 9-122. South Carolina, 8-123. LSU, 4-324. Penn State, 6-325. Auburn, 10-0ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: UNLV (3)
AP TOP 25
1. Connecticut (41), 10-0, 1,1212. Tennessee (4), 7-0, 1,0823. Oklahoma, 10-0, 1,0264. Vanderbilt, 10-1, 9935. Iowa State, 9-0, 9296. Stanford, 8-1, 8867. Purdue, 8-1, 8598. Baylor, 10-0, 7539. Duke, 8-2, 74310. Georgia, 7-0, 70211. Louisiana Tech, 3-3, 59712. Texas Tech, 5-2, 56913. Michigan, 9-1, 56414. Colorado, 9-2, 53615. Wisconsin, 9-1, 51916. North Carolina, 9-1, 48117. Colorado State, 8-1, 44518. North Carolina State, 6-3, 35019. Texas, 7-1, 33320. Florida, 6-3, 21021. Tulane, 9-1, 20022. Auburn, 10-0, 18023. South Carolina, 8-1, 15224. LSU, 4-3, 11025. Old Dominion, 4-3, 63ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: UNLV (12)
