Oct. 12, 2004

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV women's basketball team has received its first preseason ranking of the 2004-05 season, as Street & Smith's has ranked the Lady Rebels 22nd in the nation.

UNLV is the highest rated Mountain West team in the Street & Smith's rankings, with conference rival Utah receiving a No. 24 ranking. The Lady Rebels return four starters from last year's squad, including three of the top five scorers in the conference last year in senior forward All-American candidates RanDee Henry and Sherry McCracklin, as well as junior guard Sheena Moore. In all, eight of the top nine and 12 of 14 players return from last year's team that finished with a 26-8 record, and advanced to the championship game of the WNIT.

The Lady Rebels will open the season against 2004 Final Four participant Minnesota on Sunday, Nov. 14 in Seattle, Wash., in the first game of the WBCA/BTI Classic. UNLV will open its home schedule on Friday, Nov. 19 against Central Florida.