LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The two-time defending Mountain West champions are predicted to win the league title again in 2023-24 as the conference's predicted order of finish and preseason awards were released Wednesday morning in advance of MW Media Day at Resorts World.
The Lady Rebels were voted to the top spot by media members and coaches, receiving 23 of 27 first-place votes and a total of 283 points.
Individually, UNLV received three accolades with senior center Desi-Rae Young and junior guard Kiara Jackson both selected to the Preseason All-MW Team, and guard Amarachi Kimpson recognized as the MW's Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year.
"We are excited and focused on getting better each and every day so we can have another great season," head coach Lindy La Rocque said. "It starts with 'one day at a time.' We have a lot of work to do to be able to go where this group wants to go."
Young, a Las Vegas native, earned All-MW honors for a third straight season in 2022-23. She was named the MW Championship's Most Valuable Player and also earned All-MW Defensive Team honors for a second straight year. A Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Semifinalist, she ranked 10th in the country with 18 double-doubles (nine more than the second-leading MW player). She was also 12th in the nation in field-goal percentage (.592) and 18th in rebounds per game (10.1). She has scored over 1,000 career points at UNLV and was the MW's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer (17.9 ppg) last season.
Jackson, from Grand Prairie, Texas, was named last season's MW Sixth Player of the Year. She played in almost 25 minutes per game as the point guard for the conference leader in scoring offense, scoring margin, assists, field-goal percentage and 3-point field-goal percentage. She was one of only three MW non-starters to have a 20-point performance in conference play and her 7.9 ppg and 2.2 assists per game ranked third and first, respectively, among non-starters. She also made 84.4% of her free-throw attempts last season.
Kimpson, a point guard from Little Elm, Texas, was ranked among the Prospects Nation Elite 150. She entered the UNLV program as the No. 18-ranked player in the state of Texas in Premier Basketball Report's Class of 2023 rankings. She ran point for the Cy-Fair Elite EYBL U17 team that won the Nike Nationals championship in 2022 and at the varsity level, she is the reigning Texas Class 6A District 5 MVP, and was a three-time all-state member. She averaged 22.2 points per game to lead Little Elm in scoring for a third straight season.
Colorado State was voted second in the preseason poll with one first-place vote and 244 points, Wyoming was third with two first-place votes and 236 points, while Boise State was fourth (200) and San Diego State rounded out the top five (188). The rest of the poll (6-10): New Mexico (166), Air Force (126), UNR (109), Fresno State (one first-place vote, 98), San Jose State (91), Utah State (41).
The other three members of the Preseason All-MW Team included Boise State senior forward Abby Muse, Colorado State senior guard McKenna Hofschild and Wyoming junior center Allyson Fertig. Hofschild was selected as the league's Preseason Player of the Year, Colorado State senior guard Jackie Carman was named the Newcomer of the Year and San Diego State guard Trinity Zamora was the other Co-Freshman of the Year.
2023-24 SCHEDULE: The Lady Rebels will host Cal State Los Angeles in an exhibition game on Nov. 1 at Cox Pavilion before opening the regular season on the road at Loyola Marymount on Nov. 6. UNLV's home opener is set for Nov. 10 vs. College of Charleston. Click here for the full 2023-24 UNLV women's basketball schedule.
TICKETS: Season tickets for the season are on sale at UNLVtickets.com. General admission seating tickets are $75. Additional discounts are available for seniors (62 and older) and UNLV alumni, faculty and staff.
