Senior guard Thompson welcomes challenge of leading inexperienced Lady Rebels

Since she was a little girl, UNLV senior guard Kelli Thompson never has shrunk from a challenge on the basketball court.

"I grew up with six brothers, so I didn't have a chance to be intimidated," the Compton, Calif., native said. "I've played with boys all my life. I didn't get any fouls. I was one of the fellas.

"I don't think, basketball-wise, anyone intimidates me."

Nor does the task of being the lone senior and leader on an inexperienced Lady Rebels squad that opens its season today against UC Santa Barbara at the Thomas & Mack Center.

After losing their starting frontline from last season - which, with 22 wins, was UNLV's most successful in nearly a decade - the Lady Rebels were expected to rely on Thompson and senior point guard Mia Bell, who would comprise one of the country's most experienced backcourts.

But it was announced Wednesday that Bell, a Durango High product, will redshirt this season to further recover from offseason microfracture knee surgery. So, Thompson is left to carry the load alone on a team that, aside from her, has made one collective collegiate start.

"I just think it's another obstacle I have to overcome," she said. "(Bell) was more of the vocal (leader), and I was more of the silent one, so now I have to be both."

A four-year starter for Long Beach Poly High, where she became the only player - boy or girl - to play on four straight California state basketball champions, Thompson has started all 94 games she has appeared in for UNLV.

She led the team in scoring last season, with 14.3 points per game, en route to second team All-Mountain West Conference honors. Thompson poured in a career-high 31 points in the Lady Rebels' season-ending loss to St. Mary's (Calif.) in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

"There's been a lot of pressure on her since her freshman year, when she had to contribute and play a major role," fifth-year UNLV coach Kathy Olivier said. "She was a great leader last year, and she's going really hard and mentoring the young ones this year."

In going 22-10 last season - including a second-place 10-4 mark in the MWC - UNLV produced its first winning record and postseason appearance in six years, 20 wins for the first time in eight years and its best conference finish in 19 years.

The Lady Rebels' resurgence came to an abrupt halt, however, with first-round losses in the MWC tournament - to seventh-seeded New Mexico - and the WNIT.

"It was a negative-positive for me, personally," Thompson said. "I feel we could've won the (MWC), but we were thinking too far ahead, which is our fault. We went to the WNIT, and it was the same thing.

"I just look at it as fuel. It's my last year, and I'm gonna go out swinging, no matter what."

Despite losing three senior starters and its four leading rebounders, UNLV was picked to place third in the MWC preseason poll, behind defending league champion San Diego State and newcomer Fresno State.

Sophomore forward Alana Cesarz and sophomore guard Danielle Miller are the team's other top returnees.

Returnees Rmanii Haynes and Briana Charles are slated to split time at point guard, and newcomers Amie Callaway and Rejane Verin will share time in the post.

"We're still a work in progress, but I think this team has a lot of potential," Olivier said. "I don't want a drop-off."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.