Nov. 25, 2004

LAS VEGAS -

UNLV game notes against UT-Arlington in the Lady Rebel Shootout
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The 2004-05 edition of the Lady Rebel Shootout features the strongest field in the tournament's history, as three undefeated teams, including two ranked in the top-25, join UNLV for the four-team event that tips off on Saturday. The first game matches fifth-ranked North Carolina (3-0) against No. 24 Villanova (2-0), while UNLV takes on UT-Arlington (2-0) in the second game of the day at 4:30 pm.

UNLV had hopes of entering the tournament undefeated as well, but instead the Lady Rebels have been hit harder by injuries then any other team in the nation thus far in the season. They played their first two games with two starters from last year out (all-conference senior forward Sherry McCracklin (right Achilles) and junior forward Nikki Hitchens (left MCL), lost senior center Amy Loftus for 3 weeks on Nov. 18 (right ankle sprain), and lost junior guard Nejlah Clark to begin the second half against UCF, a game in which the Golden Knights shocked UNLV 60-58 in the Cox Pavilion, just the fifth loss all-time in the four-year old facility for the Lady Rebels.

The good news is that both Hitchens and Clark will return to the lineup for the tournament this weekend, and will hope to help the Lady Rebels avoid its first-ever 1-3 start under Regina Miller. The Lady Mavs however come in with a perfect record after recording road wins at Arkansas-Little Rock and Kansas. Today's game is also a matchup between the preseason favorites in the MWC (UNLV) and the Southland (UTA), while North Carolina was the preseason pick in the ACC.

Full game notes are available above.