Nov. 8, 2007

LAS VEGAS -

UNLV game notes vs. Long Beach State

The Lady Rebels open the 2007-08 season on Friday night against a former bitter conference rival in Long Beach State, as the teams will square off in the Thomas & Mack Center at 5 pm. The two were the teams to beat in the Big West in the 1980s, and restarted the series last year, a win by UNLV in Long Beach.

It will be a matchup of young teams this year, as LBSU has 10 freshmen and sophomores on its squad, while UNLV features eight newcomers among its 14-player roster. The Lady Rebels do return four starters from last year however, including two all-conference selections from last year in Sequoia Holmes and Shamela Hampton.

Of Friday's projected starters, three are veterans, as Holmes and Hampton will be joined by junior guard Brittany Halberg, while newcomers Dominique Harris and Shannon Oberg, both juniors, are also expected to be in the lineup against the 49ers.

UNLV will also look to start off another win streak in the TMC, as they had been 10-0 in their second arena before losing three of four during the 2006-07 season.

One player nearing a milestone is Holmes, as the senior and Las Vegas native is 65 points away from becoming the 17th Lady Rebel to reach the 1,000 career point mark.