LADY REBELS HOST UC RIVERSIDE FOR LAST NON-CON GAME
UNLV and UC Riverside will tip-off on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m. at Thomas & Mack Center
The UNLV Lady Rebels are back home to close out the non-conference schedule hosting UC Riverside for their holiday game on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m at the Thomas & Mack Center. This game is part of a doubleheader with the men’s squad who also plays UC Riverside at 12 p.m.
ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE: Saturday’s contest marks only the seventh meeting between the two squads. The last meeting was during the 2017-18 season at the ASU Classic with the Highlanders capturing a 95-88 win. UCR heads into Saturday’s game coming off a 74-59 win over UNLV’s MW foe Utah State. The Highlanders are currently led by Shelley Duchemin’s 11.9 points per game, Esther Matarranz’s 7.3 rebounds per game and 0.6 blocks per game, Zoe Tillery’s 2.1 assists per game and Makayla Rose’s 2.5 steals per game.
LAST MATCHUP
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Dec. 2, 2017 – UCR won 95- 88 in Tempe, Ariz. (ASU Classic)
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Dec. 29, 2012 – UCR won 82-66 in Riverside
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Nov. 16, 2011 – UNLV won 64-36 in Las Vegas
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Dec. 28, 2008 – UNLV won 71-61 in Las Vegas
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Dec. 7, 2007 – UCR won 61-49 in Riverside
PROMOTIONS: The Holiday 4-Pack is available for Saturday’s game, which includes four tickets to the men’s and women’s doubleheader plus a UNLV holiday ornament starting at just $68 per package. The deadline to purchase is Friday, Dec. 20 at 11:49 p.m. Visit UNLVtickets.com. Additionally, fans in attendance will receive a Lady Rebels poster.
TICKETS: Tickets are $6 when purchased in advance online at UNLVTickets.com. General admission tickets at the door are $10 ($8 for seniors, UNLV faculty/staff and alumni). UNLV students and Nevada high school students (presenting student ID) as well as all children 12 and under enter free.
BROADCAST INFO: The game will air live locally on the Silver State Sports and Entertainment Network (KVVU 5.2, Cox 125) and stream online on the Mountain West Network (theMW.com/watch). Play-by-play announcer Wyatt Tomchek and color analyst Kevaney Martin are on the call.
NON-CON LADY REBEL LEADERS: Heading into the final non-conference game, the Lady Rebels currently have four players scoring in double-digits. Sophomore guard Amarachi Kimpson is leading the Scarlet & Gray averaging 13.77 points per game. Senior guard Kiara Jackson is the second-leading scorer putting up an average of 12.7 points per game. Graduate guard Aaliyah Alexander is averaging 11.8 points per game, while sophomore forward McKinna Brackens is averaging 11.0 points per game, respectively. Under the hoop, redshirt freshman Meadow Roland leads UNLV in rebounds with 7.0 per game. Brackens and senior forward Alyssa Brown each are averaging 6.4 rebounds per game, respectively. Jackson additionally leads the Lady Rebels in assists, with 5.4 per game.
LAST TIME ON THE COURT:The UNLV Lady Rebels fought hard in a back-and-forth game before heading into overtime against Northwestern, but came up short and fell 79-76 on Wednesday morning at Welsh-Ryan Arena.Amarachi Kimpson led the Scarlet & Gray with a career-high 28 points by shooting 9-for-14 from the field and 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Aaliyah Alexander continued her double-digit performance this week as she put up 16 points against the Wildcats. Meadow Roland also had a double-figure points day with 12 points, as she shot 5-for-7 from the field and was 2-for-2 from the three-point line. McKinna Brackens led the Lady Rebels under the hoop and brought down eight rebounds. Brackens also dished a career-high five assists and blocked a career-high three shots, which led the squad in both categories.
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.
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.
UP NEXT: The Lady Rebels will open up Mountain West play at home as Fresno State will come to town on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. at Cox Pavilion.