LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV's Nikki Wheatley has been named Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week after leading the Lady Rebels to a big home victory over New Mexico, the conference announced Monday. This is the first weekly honor in her career, and she is the first Lady Rebel to be named MW Player of the Week since Katie Powell on Feb. 26, 2018.
Wheatley, a 5-6 senior point guard and native of La Verne, California, turned in a career-best performance in UNLV's 66-57 win Jan. 9, which snapped the Lobos' 11-game win streak that had ranked third-longest in the nation coming into the contest. It also gave the Lady Rebels a sixth-straight win over New Mexico in the all-time series between the two schools.
She led all scorers in the game with a career-high 28 points on 12-of-23 shooting, and just missed out on her second double-double as she grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Wheatley's previous career-high had been 22 points (Jan. 6, 2016 vs Colorado State).
She made her biggest impact at the turning point of the game, as with the Lobos holding a three-point lead at the near the end of the first half, Wheatley converted a layup to bring UNLV within 31-30 at the break. Wheatley then opened up the third quarter with back-to-back defensive rebounds and back-to-back layups to complete a personal 6-0 run that put the Lady Rebels ahead 34-31. UNLV would never trail again in the game.
For the season, Wheatley is averaging 11.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg, while in league play she's posting 15.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest.
NEXT TIME OUT: UNLV hosts its second-annual Lady Rebel School Day game Wednesday against the Air Force Falcons. The game will be the second-ever Lady Rebel School Day game, with 3,000 local elementary students expected to attend the 12 pm contest in the Thomas & Mack Center, after receiving a tour of the UNLV campus and attending other programs. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and staff, while those buying tickets at UNLVTickets.com at least three hours before the event receive $3 off admission. Kids 17 and under are free at UNLV Lady Rebel home events.
