UNLV’S DESI-RAE YOUNG NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM
Lady Rebels predicted to finish third in the 2021-22 conference standings
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UNLV sophomore center Desi-Rae Young was named to the 2021-22 Preseason Mountain West Women’s Basketball All-Conference Team as the league began its virtual media days Wednesday.
Young, who is from Las Vegas and attended Desert Oasis HS, is the reigning MW Freshman of the Year after averaging 11.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest during the 2020-21 season, turning in double-figure scoring efforts in a total of 16 games.
Young also earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season after leading the Lady Rebels in scoring and field-goal percentage (51%).
Other Preseason All-MW Team honorees for 2021-22 include McKenna Hofschild from Colorado State, Haley and Hanna Cavinder from Fresno State and Antonia Anderson from New Mexico. Haley Cavinder was named the Preseason Player of the Year, San Diego State’s Asia Avinger was selected as the Preseason Freshman of the Year and Kylie Jimenez from UNR was the Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: The Lady Rebels are predicted to finish third in the MW standings this season as voted on by the conference’s head coaches and select media members.
UNLV, which finished second last season, received three first-place votes in this year’s poll. Head Coach Lindy La Rocque is in her second year leading the program, which returns five student-athletes from last year’s team, including three starters, and welcomes eight newcomers to the roster. La Rocque earned the league’s Coach of the Year award in her first campaign.
Fresno State received 13 first-place votes and was selected to finish first, followed by New Mexico with seven first-place votes in second. Colorado State was picked fourth with one first-place vote and Wyoming rounded out the top five.
QUOTABLE: “It is great to be recognized and have the respect of our peers and from the media that cover the conference,” La Rocque said. “But we are really focused on getting better each and every day as we prepare for our first game. We are eager to have fans back in the stands and to show them the sisterhood and energy that we will bring to the court on every single possession.”
SEASON STARTS NOV. 3: UNLV will open the 2021-22 season with an exhibition game at home on Wednesday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cox Pavilion against Cal State Los Angeles. The regular season starts on the road at Oral Roberts on Tuesday, November 9, and the Lady Rebels’ home opener is set for Saturday, November 13 at 1 p.m. vs. Montana State at Cox Pavilion.
TICKETS: Season and single-game tickets for the 2021-22 UNLV women’s basketball season are on sale now and may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com or by calling 702-739-FANS.
