LAS VEGAS - (UNLVRebels.com) - One of the newest members to join the Lady Rebels this season was junior center Delaynie Byrne. A transfer from the University of Minnesota, Byrne started in all 24 games for the Lady Rebels this season, making an immediate impact on the squad. Following the end of the season, she reflected back on her time with the Lady Rebels so far. 

The Arvada, Colorado native transferred to UNLV before the 2019-20 season and sat out that year due to NCAA transfer rules. She then came in under a new coach ready to show she belonged, and that she did, starting all 24 games and becoming one of the top newcomers in the Mountain West, averaging 11.9 points per game and a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game. Her seven double-doubles on the season were second-highest in the Mountain West, and she was also one of the top three-point threats in the league as well, knocking down 44 of 122 from behind the arc for 36.1%, which also paced the Lady Rebels. 

Looking at her time on the sidelines with her new team, she says it was difficult not being able to play a season ago. Still, she weighs in on how that time helped her get ready for her success this past year.

"The biggest thing I took away was just kind of gaining a new perspective and really being able to watch from the sideline and just learn a lot more about the college game. And then, of course, I was practicing a lot and doing a lot of extra workouts with the coaches in the weight room to kind of be prepared and even more ready for when I could come back to the court this year."

While some athletes debated about returning to their respective sport during a pandemic, other athletes, like Bryne, had no plans to step away from the court. She praises the university staff for making her feel safe during her return to the court.

 "I think that the overall athletic training department did a really great job with all the Covid-19 protocols. They are constantly reassuring us and taking extra precautions so I never worried about any health issues. If any problems ever came up because of that, they were always so quick to handle it so it wasn't a concern, for me at least."

It's no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic played a massive part in how athletes would play the season. Protocols and guidelines were implemented for teams to continue play without the fear of an outbreak. Byrne notes challenges that the team wasn't necessarily ready for arose. Some of those included roster changes and a lack of physical interaction during team practices. 

"I think one of the biggest (obstacles) was we went from a 15-person roster before the season to just 11,  so just having to always be ready because we didn't have as many players as we did in the past."

Another notable change was the lack of fans in the stands. No fans were allowed to attend games this season due to Covid-19 protocol, meaning the atmosphere would be very different from past seasons. "Obviously I wasn't able to play in a game for UNLV before with fans, and then not this year, but I'm excited for next year to hopefully have fans and see just how different it will be."

Even under these unique circumstances, Bryne highly emphasized how important it was to just keep taking the situation day-by-day. 

"Kind of our motto is just take it day by day and try to focus in the present because, you know, tomorrow is never guaranteed, in terms of practices or games."

Bryne credits the Lady Rebel's new coach, Lindy La Rocque, as someone who helped the team implement this mindset throughout the season as they were all trying to navigate this through the circumstances together. 

"I think it goes back to coach Lindy always reiterating just take it one day at a time so just try not to let all the different circumstances stress us out was a huge piece and just going in with that mindset."

Byrne noted that even though it's always hard adjusting to a new program and a new coach, she was excited to get to play under a new system. She notes her admiration for La Rocque's accomplishments before joining UNLV and her positive mindset as a reason she was excited to get things going with her new team.

"I mean she has such a great background basketball-wise at least for me it made it easy to really buy into what she was teaching us because I just try to absorb all the knowledge that she has she was willing to pass along." 

The Lady Rebels' season came to an end in the Mountain West tournament quarterfinals against Wyoming earlier this spring, ending the year with a 15-9 record. Although not the results the team had wanted, Bryne says that this season was still a good one and one to remember.  

"I think just overall the season was more than a lot of people expected of us. I think the coaches and the players, as a team we always had high expectations. So to come out and have the success we did, to sweep Fresno on the road, to prove so many people wrong was very rewarding. We showed we could play together, battle against a lot of different circumstances with a new coach, Covid-19, adjusting to new players, and we still won this year."

As far as what's to come next season, Byrne plans to take what she learned from this very unusual season and utilize that during the team's 2021-22 run starting in November. 

"I think what I've learned personally is that there's nothing really set and stone that you can prepare. I just mentally need to always stay ready and have a mindset that you're prepared for whatever obstacles come your way. Mentally preparing in terms of gaining more motivation and really focusing my mindset on improving my game and being able to help the team in whatever ways that I can next year."