Michigan women’s coach Kim Barnes Arico said UNLV’s depth and balance make them one of the country’s best teams. She also said the Lady Rebels’ Desi-Rae Young “can do everything.”
Basketball
A look back at the 1988-89 Lady Rebels, who made the only trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in the history of the UNLV women’s program.
No. 11 seed UNLV enters its first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against No. 6 Michigan as a small underdog at Las Vegas sportsbooks.
UNLV is intent on erasing last year’s NCAA Tournament first-round loss when the 11th-seeded Lady Rebels play sixth-seeded Michigan on Friday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
UNLV will be one of 68 teams competing in the women’s NCAA Tournament, headlined by South Carolina, which is riding a 38-game undefeated streak.
No. 11 seed UNLV will play No. 6 Michigan on Friday at Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
UNLV (31-2) is making its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament after repeating as Mountain West regular-season and conference tournament champion.
UNLV will find out where it will head for the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. The public is invited to a free watch party at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Devin Tillis left UNLV after his freshman season, wanting to be closer to home and compete for NCAA Tournament bids. His return to Las Vegas didn’t go as planned Friday.
Coach Kevin Kruger’s second season was a roller-coaster ride. Integrating eight new scholarship players and an entirely new coaching staff, the Rebels struggled in Mountain West play.
The once-proud program has now gone a decade without qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
There certainly is merit in the heart UNLV showed Thursday under coach Kevin Kruger despite the unforgiving outcome that sabotaged an exhilarating comeback.
No. 7-seeded UNLV lost in overtime to No. 2 Boise State on Thursday, ending the Rebels’ Mountain West tournament run in the quarterfinals once again.
The No. 21 Lady Rebels have become a mid-major power under coach Lindy La Rocque and should remain one so long as she stands on their sideline.
Junior center and Desert Oasis alum Desi-Rae Young led the Lady Rebels to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.