Feb. 13, 2002

LAS VEGAS - In an effort to drive campus support from faculty and students for Lady Rebel basketball and all varsity sports, UNLV athletics director John Robinson will lead a spirit parade across campus on Thursday.

Robinson hopes the parade will not only help increase attendance at Thursday night's women's basketball game against league-leading Colorado State but also generate enthusiasm for all athletics throughout the campus community.

The march will begin at 11:15 a.m. to coincide with a break in class sessions. Robinson will lead a caravan of floats, coaches, athletes, cheerleaders, athletics department personnel and members of the band from the Judy Bailey Theatre (also known as the Flashlight) along the pedestrian mall to the Moyer Student Union, distributing Valentine's Day candy and coupons to the game.

In conjunction with the parade, UNLV is encouraging fans to bring a date to the game. Men who profess their love for the Lady Rebels will be given free tickets, and all ladies will be admitted free. The game begins at 7:35 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.

In its last home game, a school-record crowd of 4,713 watched UNLV knock off New Mexico for the second time this season, 72-60. The win kept the Lady Rebels' perfect 11-0 home record in tact and gave them some leverage in the Mountain West Conference race.

Thursday's game against Colorado State would produce even more leverage. The Rams come into the game ranked 15th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and sit atop the league with a 8-1 record. UNLV trails CSU by two games in the standings.