Dec. 16, 2011

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -

Now that semester exams are over, the UNLV women's basketball team (8-2) has another, just as difficult test ahead of them, as Sunday's game (5 pm start) against Northwestern in the BTI Invitational marks the first of a six-game stretch in UNLV will face four RPI top-40 teams. It all begins with the Wildcats, who come into the Cox Pavilion with an 8-1 record and a No. 13 RPI rating.

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This is the second all-time meeting between UNLV and Northwestern. The last time the teams met was in the 2000-01 season, a 10-point UNLV win at Northwestern. Also of note, this is the first time UNLV has played against a Joe McKeown coached team since the 2007-08 season, when the Lady Rebels rallied from down 25 points in the second half to upset his 16th-ranked George Washington squad 62-61, in what is the fourth largest comeback in NCAA history.

Another tie between the two teams is the Wildcats' third leading scorer this season, junior center and Las Vegas native Dannielle Diamant, who is also the granddaughter of the legendary former Runnin' Rebels coach Jerry Tarkanian.

GAME 11 - Sunday, December 18 • 5 pm
BTI Invitational Day One

UNLV (8-2, 0-0 MW)
Head coach: Kathy Olivier (46-58, 4th year)
Leading scorer: Jr./G Kelli Thompson (13.9 ppg)

vs.
Northwestern (8-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Head coach: Joe McKeown (52-53, 5th year)
Leading scorer: Jr./F Kendall Hackney (16.7 ppg)

Cox Pavilion (2,500)
Las Vegas
TV: None
Radio: KSHP 1400 AM (Bob Blum, Adam Candee)
Live Stats: Gametracker at UNLVRebels.com