LADY REBELS TO HOST ARIZONA AT THOMAS & MACK CENTER
UNLV and Arizona will tip-off at 5 p.m. PT
- Game Notes vs. Arizona (PDF) | 2023-24 Schedule
- 2023-24 Statistics (PDF) | 2023-24 Statistics (Web)
- @UNLVAthletics | @UNLVLadyRebels
- Buy Tickets
The UNLV women’s basketball team is back in Las Vegas to host Arizona at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, Dec. 5. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. Both squads are currently receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The last meeting between the two squads was during the first round of the 2021-22 NCAA Tournament.
SATURDAY’S PROMOTIONS: Fans are encouraged to arrive early to the Thomas & Mack Center for a t-shirt giveaway courtesy of BELFOR Property Restoration while supplies last. Doors for the game will open at 4 p.m.
TICKETS: Let’s Pack the Mack tickets are $5 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.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: UNLV is 3-6 all-time against Arizona. The last meeting between the two squads was during the first round of the 2021-22 NCAA Tournament and the Wildcats defeated the Lady Rebels 72-67. The Wildcats head into the weekend with a 6-1 record and have wins over West Texas A&M, Point Loma, New Mexico State, NAU, LMU, San Diego, Memphis and South Dakota. The Wildcats are coming off of wins against South Dakota and Memphis during the Battle4Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas. Arizona dropped the second game of the tournament to Ole Miss 56-47. Arizona is currently being led by Esmery Martinez and Kailyn Gilbert who are both averaging 12.1 points per game. Martinez is also tied for the team-high in rebounds, averaging 6.0 per game. Gilbert averages 5.4 boards per game and is second on the squad in assists (17). The Wildcats have five returners on the squad and six newcomers.
LAST TIME ON THE COURT: Four Lady Rebels were in double-figures as the UNLV women’s basketball team secured an 85-69 victory over Northern Arizona on Wednesday night at the Rolle Activity Center. UNLV led by as many as 17 points as Ashley Scogging led the squad with a season-high 18 points by shooting 6-for-11 from the field and 3-for-6 from long range. Scoggin was also a perfect 3-for-3 at the free throw line, and brought down six rebounds, which tied her career-high. Kiara Jackson added 17 points by shooting 7-for-14 from the field and was a perfect 1-for-1 from the three-point line and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. Jackson also dished out a career-high nine assists. Desi-Rae Young and Alyssa Brown each added 13 points, and Young picked up her 39th career double-double having brought down 14 boards.
HALFWAY THROUGH NON-CONFERENCE LADY REBEL LEADERS: Through seven games, three Lady Rebels are averaging double figures in scoring in Desi-Rae Young (16.9 ppg), Alyssa Durazo-Frescas (13.6 ppg) and Kiara Jackson (12.4 ppg). Young leads the squad in rebounds (10.0 rpg), while Jackson is the assists leader (5.3 apg).
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.
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 have the call.
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).
