CHICAGO, Ill. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Lady Rebels will cap off their Chicago non-conference road trip with an early morning contest visiting Northwestern on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. PT/11 a.m. CT. The Scarlet & Gray will then head back home to Las Vegas to play their third game of the week and close out the non-conference slate hosting UC Riverside on Saturday, Dec. 21.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN: Sunday's contest marks only the fifth meeting between the two squads. The last time UNLV and Northwestern met was on Dec. 17, 2014 in the Lady Rebels' home tournament, Lady Rebel Round-Up. The Wildcats hold the overall series 3-1 against the Lady Rebels. Northwestern is coming off a 67-57 win over Bradley. The Wildcats have three players scoring in double-figures and are led by Taylor William's almost double-double of 11.7 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game. Grace Sullivan is the second-leading scorer who is averaging 11.6 points per game, Kyla Jones averages 11.4 points per game, respectively.
LAST MATCHUP
- Dec. 17, 2014 - Northwestern won 88-84 in Las Vegas (Lady Rebel Round-Up)
- Nov. 17, 2013 - Northwestern won 57-53 in Evanston
- Dec. 18, 2011 - Northwestern won 79-49 in Las Vegas (BTI Invitational)
- Dec. 2, 2000 - UNLV won 84-74 in Evanston (Roger L. White Invitational)
NON-CON LADY REBEL LEADERS: With two games left on the non-conference schedule, the Lady Rebels currently have four players scoring in double-digits. Senior guard
Kiara Jackson is leading the Scarlet & Gray averaging 13.4 points per game. Sophomore guard
Amarachi Kimpson is the second-leading scorer putting up an average of 12.3 points per game. Graduate guard
Aaliyah Alexander is averaging 11.4 points per game, while sophomore forward
McKinna Brackens is averaging 11.2 points per game, respectively. Under the hoop, redshirt freshman
Meadow Roland leads UNLV in rebounds with 7.0 per game. Senior forward
Alyssa Brown is averaging 6.3 rebounds per game, and Brackens is averaging 6.2 rebounds per game respectively. Jackson additionally leads the Lady Rebels in assists, with 5.8 per game.
LAST TIME ON THE COURT: The UNLV Lady Rebels collected an 80-61 victory over DePaul on Dec. 15 at Wintrust Arena. The Scarlet & Gray evened the overall series 2-2 with the Blue Demons.
Aaliyah Alexander put up a season-high 25 points by shooting 8-for-10 from the field, did not miss a three-pointer (3-for-3) and was 6-for-10 at the free throw line. Alexander's 25 points today have been the most by a Lady Rebel in a game this season.
Kiara Jackson was the second-leading scorer with 17 points, while
Amarachi Kimpson brought down a career-high eight rebounds to lead the squad.
WHAT UP SQUAD: The Lady Rebels return 10 of the 14 players from its 2024 championship squad, including two starters and Mountain West Sixth Player and Freshman of the Year
Amarachi Kimpson. UNLV added two freshmen guards
Teagan Colvin and
Elli Guiney, and junior transfer
Aaliyah Alexander from Eastern Washington.
THREE-PEAT LAST SEASON: The Lady Rebels have continued to bring the heat last season, which culminated with a third consecutive Mountain West Regular Season and Tournament Titles. UNLV became the first program in MW history to claim both titles in three straight seasons. The Scarlet & Gray earned its third automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, a first in both program and league history. The Lady Rebels finished the season only one of two squads to have two (South Carolina) straight seasons with 30 wins. UNLV earned its highest ranking in both the AP and Coaches Poll coming in at No. 20 and No. 19. The Lady Rebels appeared in the Top-25 eight times this season and came into the season receiving votes for the first time in 19 years. UNLV claimed the MW's Player of the Year in
Desi-Rae Young (All-MW Team and All-Defensive Team), and Sixth and Freshman of the Year with Amarachi Kimspon (All-MW Team honorable mention and All-Freshman MW Team).
Kiara Jackson earned All-MW team accolades and
Alyssa Brown was named MW Tournament MVP.
UP NEXT: The Lady Rebels close out the non-conference slate hosting UC Riverside on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m. at The Thomas & Mack Center.
