SAN DIEGO (UNLVRebels.com) - The Lady Rebels will open The Dana on Mission Bay Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by San Diego on Friday, Nov. 24 against UC Santa Barbara at 4 p.m. PT at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with a subscription required.
 
UNLV is 4-0 to start the season for the second consecutive year under head coach Lindy La Rocque. The Lady Rebels marked a new program record in made three-pointers in a single game with 16 vs. Utah Tech on Nov. 14. The UNLV is predicted to win the league title again in 2024. Senior Desi-Rae Young and junior Kiara Jackson both were selected to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team and freshman Amarachi Kimpson was recognized as the MW's Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year.
 
LAST TIME ON THE COURT: Three different players scored in double-figures as the UNLV women's basketball team overpowered New Hampshire, 93-30, on Saturday afternoon at Cox Pavilion in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Lady Rebels were led by Kiara Jackson who put up a season-high 18 points, shooting 7-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from behind the arc. Desi-Rae Young collected 17 points, led the squad in rebounds with eight and had three steals on the day. Nneka Obiazor added 10 points by shooting 4-for-6 inside the arc and was a perfect 2-for-2 from long range.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: UC Santa Barbara is currently 2-1 on the season with both wins coming on home court and a road loss to Idaho State on Nov. 15. The Gauchos are coming off a 71-61 victory over Southern Utah at the Thunderdome on Nov. 19. The Gauchos return eight players from last season including Anya Choice, Alyssa Marin and Alexis Whitfield who are expected to play a big role in this season. UCSB brings in seven newcomers which include three transfers and four true freshmen. The Gauchos are currently led by Alexis Whitfield who is averaging 21.3 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game. Last season, UCSB went 21-12 overall and fell in The Big West Championships game to Hawai'i, 71-69.
 
SQUAD UP: UNLV returns nine of the 12 players from its 2023 championship squad including three starters and Mountain West Sixth Player of the Year, Kiara Jackson and MVP of the Mountain West Championship, Desi-Rae Young. New to the squad this season are four freshmen, forward McKinna Brackens, point guard Amarachi Kimpson, guard Macy Spencer and forward Meadow Roland, and junior transfer Macie James, a forward from Oklahoma State.
 
LAST SEASON: The Lady Rebels are coming off another highly successful season that culminated with the second consecutive Mountain West Regular season title and Tournament title. UNLV received its second straight automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Rebels had one of their best program records since the 1989-90 season, finishing the regular season with a 28-2 record. UNLV's undefeated MW season (18-0) was also its best since the 1992-92 season. Head Coach Lindy La Rocque was named Mountain West Coach of the Year for the second time in just three seasons. Four Lady Rebels earned All-Mountain West accolades last season: Kiara Jackson (Sixth Player of the Year), Essence Booker (All-Mountain West team), Justice Ethridge (All-Mountain West team & All-Defensive team), Desi-Rae Young (All-Mountain West team & All-Defensive team).