Dec. 16, 2004

LAS VEGAS -

UNLV's Duel In The Desert Tournament Notes
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For the second time this season, Las Vegas will host some of the top women's basketball teams in the nation as UNLV hosts the inaugural Duel In The Desert Tournament. This first-year tournament features UNLV, Iowa State (which sets up a potential rematch of last year's WNIT semifinal game), Northern Arizona and Eastern Kentucky in the Gray bracket, while No. 12 Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Arkansas State, and Western Michigan play in the Scarlet bracket.

The Lady Rebels enter the weekend looking to break its patten thus far this season, as they have yet to string together two wins, as each victory has been followed by a loss thus far in 2004-05.

UNLV, hit harder by injuries then any other team in the nation thus far in the season, is finally back to almost full strength, as junior forward Nikki Hitchens (MCL) to the lineup for the first time in the Lady Rebel Shootout over Thanksgiving weekend, while Amy Loftus and Nejlah Clark both returned after missing the UCF game with injuries as well. The Lady Rebels are still without the services of preseason All-MWC senior forward Sherry McCracklin (right Achilles), out since October

With the return of Hitchens to the lineup, UNLV has looked more like the team that led the MWC in scoring last year as the Lady Rebels have averaged 70 points per game in the last four contests with her back on the court, after averaging just 64.3 ppg with her on the bench, and held a +10.25 rebound margin (-1.67 with her on the bench).