Oct. 11, 2002
2002-2003 Roster
LAS VEGAS - Four transfers have joined the UNLV women's basketball program for the upcoming 2002-03 season. Last year, the Lady Rebels (23-8) advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994 and recorded its 13th best season in school history.
Junior transfer InFini Robinson, a 5-foot-7 guard from Detroit, Mich. (Oak Park HS), previously played at the University of Michigan. Robinson sat out the 2001-02 season due to NCAA transfer rules. She is a former Street and Smith's High School All-American also earning USA TODAY honorable mention honors in 1999. While at Michigan, Robinson was a two-year guard for the Wolverines, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament twice during her career.
"After a year of experience in Las Vegas, InFini is familiar and comfortable in our system," said UNLV coach Regina Miller, who enters her fifth season with the program. "She brings two years of experience at a Big Ten school and will play in the combo 1-2 spot. We will be smaller in the perimeter this year and will try to create a lot of offense from our guards."
RanDee Henry, a 6-foot-1 forward from Detroit, Mich. (Renaissance HS), will be one-of-three remaining transfers on the roster to sit out the 2002-03 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Henry, a former two-year star at Detroit Mercy, was a Horizon League First Team All-Conference pick and led the team in scoring (15.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg) as a sophomore. During her rookie season in 2000-01, she saw action in all 29 games with 22 starts garnering All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference Newcomer accolades. Her father, Randy, is a former draft pick of the NBA's Detroit Pistons and attended Illinois State.
"RanDee is a gem on-and-off-the-court," Miller said. "She was a great catch for us late and is a great practice player who will get us ready for our opponents this season. RanDee will make an immediate impact when she becomes eligible."
Local native and prep standout Nikki Hitchens, a sophomore transfer from the University of Texas-Pan American, returns home to Las Vegas after playing one season with the Broncs. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 15.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.7 spg and 2.3 bpg during her senior year at Silverado High School. She is a three-time all-conference and all-division honoree and led the Skyhawks to three division championships and three state 4A tournament appearances. While at UTPA, Hitchens played in 25 games starting on 10 occasions and was third on the team in scoring with 9.3 points per game and averaged 4.3 rebounds per game.
"We have watched Nikki for the last two years and she has continued to get better," Miller said. "I really admire her for developing her skills. She brings aggressiveness in the guard spot and has good size. She is as good of a post player at 5-10."
Amy Loftus, a 6-foot-4 center from Maryville, Ill., is an incoming junior transfer from the University of Missouri. Loftus and the Tigers advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2000-01 and made a WNIT First Round appearance in 2001-02. While at Mizzou, she averaged 2.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. During her senior year at Collinsville High School, Loftus posted 20.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg and 4.0 bpg and was named Southern Illinois Player of the Year. Chose UNLV over BYU and Utah.
"Amy gives us size we were missing," Miller said. "She is a true post player and has the ability to face the basket. Her presence in the paint is what we have been looking for."
STAFF NOTES...Basketball operations assistant Melissa Erickson is the newest addition to the staff and will aid in the day-to-day operations of the program. Erickson is a 2001 graduate of the University of Washington and was a four-year basketball letterwinner for the Huskies. She advanced to the NCAA Tournament twice in her career and was a member of Washington's Pacific-10 Conference Championship and NCAA Elite Eight team in 2001.
