March 8, 2005

LAS VEGAS - UNLV freshman outfielder Marissa Nichols (Diamond Bar, Calif.) was chosen for the third-consecutive week as the Mountain West Conference's Player of the Week. Nichols is the first non-pitcher to win three conference player of the week honors in one season for UNLV, let alone consecutively. The feat dates back to 1986 and spans over the Big West, Western Athletic and Mountain West Conference years. This past weekend at the Las Vegas Classic she helped UNLV (13-9) to a 3-1 record and two victories over top-25 competition (#21 Oregon and #14 Washington).

Nichols hit .462 (6-for-13) at the Las Vegas Classic with a home run, a triple, three RBI and six runs, with multiple hits in three of the four games. In UNLV's 5-2 victory over Illinois-Chicago, she went 2-for-4 with her fifth home run of the season, a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Against 11th-ranked Oklahoma, she went 2-for-4 and scored a run. In the Rebels' upset win over No. 14 Washington, she went 2-for-3, recording the game-winning two-run single in the fourth inning. She also scored the insurance run, giving UNLV the final run in its 7-5 win. Nichols stole two bases against the Huskies. Defensively, she was perfect in the outfield with 15 putouts.

Nichols leads the Rebels in nearly every offensive category. She is tops in batting average (.456), hits (36), home runs (5), doubles (5), triples (5), runs (22), RBI (19), total bases (66), slugging % (.835), OB% (.476) and stolen bases (14-for-14).

Currently, she leads the MWC in hits, triples, runs, RBI and stolen bases (11). She is second in batting average and home runs.