May 16, 2008

LAS VEGAS - Sequoia Holmes will miss her college graduation on Saturday for a good reason, as she learned on Friday that she has become the third player in UNLV women's basketball history to reach the WNBA. The Las Vegas native survived the final roster cut and will be on the Houston Comets opening day roster when the 2008 WNBA season starts on Saturday.

Holmes, who will graduate with a bachelor's degree in psychology, was not selected in April's WNBA draft but signed a training camp contract with the Comets and was one of 18 players in the preseason camp. Houston made its final cut to 13 players on Friday, leaving Holmes on the squad. She joins Linda Frohlich (2002-04, 2006-07) and Pauline Jordan (1998) as Lady Rebel alumni that reached the WNBA level.

Holmes became the fifth different Lady Rebel to earn first team All-Mountain West Conference honors this past season. She led the Mountain West Conference in scoring the entire season (18.3 ppg) and was ranked in the top 10 in the nation for the first two months. The Mojave High School graduate is also the only player in league history to win both a scoring title and earn MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors (2006-07 season).

She finished her season third in the league in both rebounding with 7.3 per game and steals with 2.33 per game, and was also 12th in assists with 2.60 per contest. Holmes finished her career with 1,485 points and is the MWC's career steals leader with 263.

Two former Lady Rebels did not survive roster cuts this week however. Constance Jinks was wavied by the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, while Frohlich, who has been suffering from vertigo for the past several weeks, was released by Sacramento on Friday.