March 6, 2009

LAS VEGAS - Four Lady Rebels received season awards on Friday night as the UNLV women's basketball team held its Senior Celebration at the Thomas & Mack Center. Shamela Hampton, Brittany Halberg, Dominique Harris, and Jamie Smith were all honored for their performances during the season.

Hampton, a senior center, received the "Mighty Rebel" award, as she has led the team in scoring the entire season, and is currently in the top eight in the Mountain West in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage. She also paces the league in double-doubles with 12 on the season. Earlier this year she became the 18th Lady Rebel to reach the 1,000 career point mark.

The team's "Top Academic" award went to Halberg, a senior guard. In February, she became the first Lady Rebel since 2002 to be named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, and she has been named to the Academic All-MWC Team every year of her career.

The "Blue Collar Worker" for this year is senior guard Dominique Harris. She greatly improved her play once during the conference season, and ranks in the top 20 in the league in five categories including scoring and steals. She was also key to UNLV's last two wins, including a game-winning layup with a second left for a 64-63 victory at Air Force.

The Newcomer award went to freshman Jamie Smith, who is currently leading the MWC in rebounding in conference play with 10.1 per game, and is also the third-leading freshman rebounder in the nation. She shattered the MWC record for rebounds by a freshman by more than over 60 with at least two games left in the year, while her 10 double-doubles on the year is second in the league and also a MWC freshman record.

The Lady Rebels close out the regular season on Saturday as they host San Diego State at 3 pm in the Cox Pavilion.