Download pdf - The Lady Rebels€¦ · 22 2005-06 UNLV Women’s Basketball Media Guide UNLV • FIVE STRAIGHT POSTSEASON APPEARANCES Sherry McCracklin was the 2003-04 MWC Defensive Player of the

The Lady Rebels

2005-06 UNLV Women’s Basketball Media Guide2005-06 UNLV Women’s Basketball Media Guide2005-06 UNLV Women’s Basketball Media Guide2005-06 UNLV Women’s Basketball Media Guide2005-06 UNLV Women’s Basketball Media Guide 2121212121

The LadyRebels

In This SECTION• 2005-06 Lady Rebel Outlook ............ 22-23• 2005-06 UNLV Roster ...................... 24-25• Head Coach Regina Miller ................. 26-28• Coaching Staff ................................... 29-30• Support Staff ..................................... 31-32• TV/Radio chart ........................................ 33• Player Profiles .................................... 34-58• Lady Rebels on the Road ......................... 59

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Sherry McCracklin was the 2003-04 MWCDefensive Player of the Year after finishing in the

top three in rebounding, blocks and steals.

If there is one word that could best describe the upcoming season forthe Lady Rebels, Redemption would probably be it. UNLV came intolast year with very high preseason expectations, both from themselvesand from the rest of the basketball world as they were picked to be amongthe nation’s top 25 programs, as well as favored to win their first MountainWest Conference title.

However, the team’s hopes quickly took a downhill turn weeks beforethe season started, when senior forward and preseason All-Americacandidate Sherry McCracklin suffered a tear in her Achillies, and waslost for the season. McCracklin’s injury was just the first of several tocome, as the Lady Rebels were decimated for the first six weeks of theseason. At one point four starters were all out of action.

Though UNLV would extend its postseason streak to five years witha season-ending trip to the WNIT, it was a disappointing end that left theteam wondering what might have been possible if not for the run of injuries.There was one positive from the year however, as players that might nothave seen as much time were suddenly thrust into starting roles, and theynot only flourished in those roles, but several of them developed intosome of the best players in the MWC. With the experience they gainedlast year, and with the return of four starters, the Lady Rebels go into2005-06 as possibly the deepest and most experienced team in theconference.

In fact, UNLV actually brings back five starters, as McCracklinreceived a medical redshirt and will return for her senior year to once againstrike fear into her Lady Rebels opponents on the defensive side of thecourt. In her last season, McCracklin was one of the biggest keys toUNLV’s 16-2 start in 2003-04, leading the nation in rebounding for thefirst two months of the year and earning MWC Defender of the Yearhonors after finishing in the top three in rebounding (9.7 rpg) as well assteals and blocks. She was also a WBCA/Kodak Honorable Mention All-American selection after finishing fifthin the MWC in scoring (12.9 ppg).

Though McCracklin is one of thestrongest players in the conference whocan be counted on to convert a layup ordraw a foul in the paint, one of her biggestadvantages on offense is her ability as apost player in running the fast break, asshe would rountinely catch passes intransition and convert the layup beforethe defenders could catch up. The restof the Lady Rebels are just as dangerouson the break if not more, and that all leadsinto eighth-year head coach ReginaMiller’s philosphy on offense. “We’vealways been an up-tempo team in thepast, and that is not going to change thisyear, we will push the ball offensivelyevery chance we get, and we will putpressure on the ball all over the court,”said Miller. “The athleticism of our fivenewcomers could make this the deepestteam we’ve had in my eight years here,but our success this year will depend onour defense. Our post defense sufferedlast year with the loss of Sherry, but weaddressed that problem in the offseasonby recruiting four post players, and withthe return of Sherry to the team thatshould be greatly improved for thisupcoming year. If we can improve our

post defense, and cut down on our unforced turnovers, then I see thepotential for a very successful season.”

As mentioned before, UNLV brings back four starters from lastseason, and including McCracklin, the Lady Rebels could feature a startlinglineup with four seniors. If McCracklin is the key to the Lady Rebels’defense, then senior guard Sheena Moore is without a doubt the key onoffense. One of the most explosive scorers on the West Coast, Moore ledthe team in scoring last year despite having made the move to running thepoint after playing at the two-guard her first two years at UNLV. Adeadly shooter from outside (33.3%, and fourth in the MWC in three-pointers per game), she was always a threat to rip the nets from downtownor drive into the paint for a layup, but improved each game in setting upher teammates on offense, finishing sixth in assists in the league with 3.65per game, and fourth in scoring (14.6 ppg).

The third senior is forward Nikki Hitchens, who has started thelast two years in Las Vegas after playing her first year at Texas-PanAmerican. Despite missing the first month of last year with a MCLinjury, Hitchens started 24 games at small forward and was one of theteam’s most consistent scorers, averaging 8.3 points per game while addinga career-high 4.9 rebounds per contest. Her biggest improvement was onthe offensive side and her choice of shots as she took advantage of herslashing ability to look for more shots in the paint and led the team in fieldgoal percentage, shooting 48.2 percent.

Off-guard Brittney Thomas is the fourth returning senior starter,and she moved into the starting role midway through the conferenceseason last year in her first year at UNLV. She averaged just two pointsa game through the first eight contests, but exploded in conference gameswith her three-point shooting and finished with an 8.2 ppg average whilehelping the Lady Rebels to key wins over New Mexico and a MWCtournament game over Wyoming.

Las Vegas native Sequoia Holmes, oneof the most athletic players in theconference, broke into the starting lineupto help fill the void in the post, and neverlet go of her starting role while finishingfourth on the team in scoring (8.2 ppg) andsecond in rebounding (5.0 rpg). As afreshman she led the team in blocks whilealso finishing among the league leaders insteals, rebounds and scoring on the way toearning All-MWC Honorable Mention. Herability to play almost anywhere on thecourt (two, three, or four spots) is a bigadvantage to the Lady Rebels as she’s oneof the top defenders in the league withrebounding and blocking ability, while shealso has the quickness and agility to bematched up defensively with opposingpoint guards. While Holmes and Hitchens could bothvie for the starting role at the three spot,they won’t be the only Lady Rebels with achance to move into the lineup this season.Though junior Kameca Simmons sawtime as Moore’s backup at the point lastyear, she will also see time at small forwardand just like Hitchens is very good asslashing towards the basket, and alsoimproved on both her defense and herrebounding last season.

2005-06 outlook

The Lady Rebels


state tournament appearance in 23 years while setting new schoolrecords in points (26.5 ppg), rebounds (12.1 rpg) and blocks (5.1 bpg).The final freshman is point guard Brittany Halberg. A 5-7 native ofLake Oswego, Ore., Halberg helped Lakeridge High to four straighttop-four finishes, and was named honorable mention all-state afterposting 10 points, 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.

Once again the Lady Rebels will take on a challenging schedulewith several nationally promient teams on the slate, beginning with thevery first tournament of the year. The team will also get the chance toprove itself early with five of its first 11 games on the road. “We’re excited about our schedule this season. With five of our 11non-conference games away from Las Vegas, we’ll have a chance earlyin the season to prove that we are capable of being successful on theroad,” said Miller. “I’m really upbeat about this year’s schedule, andplaying as many as 11 games against teams that were in the postseasonlast year should definitely help us in our bid to return to the NCAATournament.”

UNLV begins the season in Chicago at the DePaul Tournament,which features Harvard, Alabama State and the host DePaul BlueDemons, a preseason top-20 team. After hosting the annual LadyRebel Shootout, which features Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech andStephen F. Austin, UNLV takes to the road again for a tournament atPac-10 member California.

Also on slate for UNLV this season is the Duel in the Desert, inwhich five teams that appeared in the postseason in 2005 (NotreDame, NC State, Texas A&M, Utah and Arkansas State) will all maketheir way to Las Vegas for the second annual pre-Christmas tournament.The Lady Rebels open MWC play on Jan. 7 at home against Wyoming.They will meet new league-member TCU for the first time in conferenceplay on Feb. 2 in the Thomas & Mack Center in a nationally televisedcontest.

Senior guard Sheena Moore is an explosive scorer and cur-rently ranks 12th all-time at UNLV in career scoring after

leading the team with 14.6 points per game in 2004-05.

lady rebels outlook

Three key returnees who are also expected to make a much biggerimpact this season are senior guard Nejlah Clark, junior forward KishaLee and sophomore guard Latosha Pace. Clark is one of the mostexperienced guards on the team, and is the player Miller puts in the gameas a defensive stopper, usually matched up against the opposing team’stop offensive player. Lee saw time at both post positions last year whilecoming off the bench, and had one of her best games against Iowa State,scoring 13 points in the overtime loss to the Cyclones. Pace meanwhilecomes in the game for one reason - to shoot the long ball. She tied forfourth on the team last year with 13 three-pointers, and is always a threatto hit from outside, with her career best game coming against Minnesotawhen she hit three and finished with 11 points against the Golden Golphers.

Other returnees include junior forward Tiffani Burries and juniorguard Shavonne Burks.

Five newcomers join UNLV this year, and the coaching staff addressedits needs in the post by recruiting four post players, who are 6-3 or taller.Faye Muller, a junior transfer from Northeastern JC and native of Aurora,Colo., is a two-time JC all-region selection while setting school reboundingrecords for the Plainswomen. Also from Colorado is the first of fourfreshmen, Shamela Hampton. The 6-3 center led Sierra High to a No. 5ranking in the state and was named all-state after leading Colorado inscoring and rebounding as a senior. Latoya Hunt, 6-3 forward fromFresno, Calif., guided Edison High to a 110-10 record over her four years,and averaged a double-double (11.6 ppg, 11.8 rpg) while finishing third inthe state in blocks. The last post player is 6-6 center Samantha Stickler.A native of Grand Canyon, Ariz., Stickler carried her team to their first Sequoia Holmes was one of the top freshmen in the league last

year, ranking in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals.


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STARTERS RETURNING (4)Sheena Moore G Sr. (14.6 ppg, 3.6 apg, 33.1 3pt%)Nikki Hitchens F/G Sr. (8.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg)Sequoia Holmes F So. (8.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 spg)Brittney Thomas G Sr. (6.2 ppg, 1.8 apg, 35.6 3pt%)

STARTERS LOST (1)RanDee Henry F Sr. (14.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg)

OTHER LETTERWINNERS RETURNING (7)Sherry McCracklin F Sr. *(12.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg)Kameca Simmons G Jr. (3.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg)Kisha Lee F So. (3.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg)Latosha Pace G So. (4.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg)Nejlah Clark G Jr. (1.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg)Tiffani Burries C So. (0.4 ppg, 0.7 rpg)Shavonne Burks G Jr. (0.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg)* - Stats from 2003-04, sat out entire 2004-05 season with injuries

OTHER LETTERWINNERS LOST (3)Shana Coleman G Sr. (5.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg)Amy Loftus C Sr. (3.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg)Candace Sneed G Sr. (1.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg)

NEWCOMERS (5)Brittney Halberg G Fr. Lake Oswego, Ore./LakeridgeShamela Hampton C Fr. Colorado Springs, Colo./SierraLatoya Hunt F Fr. Fresno, Calif./EdisonFaye Muller F Jr. Aurora, Colo./Northeastern JCSamantha Stickler C Fr. Grand Canyon, Ariz./Grand Canyon

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2005-06 lady rebels

By ClassBy ClassBy ClassBy ClassBy Class

SENIORS (5)Nejlah ClarkNikki HitchensSherry McCracklinSheena MooreBrittney Thomas

JUNIORS (5)Shavonne BurksTiffani BurriesKisha LeeFaye MullerKameca Simmons

SOPHOMORES (2)Sequoia HolmesLatosha Pace

FRESHMEN (4)Brittany HalbergShamela HamptonLatoya HuntSamantha Stickler

By StateBy StateBy StateBy StateBy StateCALIFORNIA (4)Tiffani Burries (Compton)Latoya Hunt (Fresno)Kameca Simmons (Compton)Brittney Thomas (Lakewood)

MICHIGAN (3)Nejlah Clark (Detroit)Sheena Moore (Lansing)Latosha Pace (Detroit)

COLORADO (3)Shavonne Burks (Denver)Shamela Hampton(Colorado Springs)Faye Muller (Aurora)

NEVADA (2)Nikki Hitchens (Las Vegas)Sequoia Holmes (Las Vegas)

ILLINOIS (2)Kisha Lee (Chicago)Sherry McCracklin (Hazel Crest)

OREGON (1)Brittany Halberg (Lake Oswego)

ARIZONA (1)Samantha Stickler (Grand Canyon)

2005-06 Roster Breakdown

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The Lady Rebels


2005-06 Lady Rebels Roster2005-06 Lady Rebels Roster2005-06 Lady Rebels Roster2005-06 Lady Rebels Roster2005-06 Lady Rebels RosterNO. NAME POS. HT. CL. EXP. HOMETOWN /PREVIOUS SCHOOL00 Sheena Moore G 5-7 Sr. 3L Lansing, Mich./Lansing Everett1 Nejlah Clark G 5-9 Sr. 3L Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King3 Kameca Simmons G 5-9 Jr. 2L Compton, Calif./Lynwood5 Brittany Halberg G 5-7 Fr. HS Lake Oswego, Ore./Lakeridge10 Shavonne Burks G 5-6 Jr. 1L Denver, Colo./George Washington12 Sequoia Holmes F 6-1 So. 1L Las Vegas, Nev./Mojave14 Latosha Pace G 5-11 So. 1L Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King15 Faye Muller F 6-3 Jr. TR Aurora, Colo./Northeastern JC20 Brittney Thomas G 5-7 Sr. 1L Lakewood, Calif./Cerritos College21 Nikki Hitchens F/G 5-11 Sr. 2L Las Vegas, Nev./Texas-Pan American23 Latoya Hunt F 6-3 Fr. HS Fresno, Calif./Edison24 Shamela Hampton C 6-3 Fr. HS Colorado Springs, Colo./Sierra25 Sherry McCracklin F 6-2 Sr. 3L Hazel Crest, Ill./Hillcrest32 Kisha Lee F 6-0 Jr. 2L Chicago, Ill./Carver33 Tiffani Burries C 6-4 Jr. 2L Compton, Calif./Lynwood35 Samantha Stickler C 6-6 Fr. HS Grand Canyon, Ariz./Grand Canyon

HEAD COACH: Regina Miller (Old Dominion ‘84 / Eighth season)ASSISTANT COACHES:Frozena Jerro (Arizona State ’93, Fourth season)Anthony Turner (Colorado ’00, Fourth season)Melanie Pearson (BYU ’03, Second season)STUDENT ASSISTANT: Amanda VanZebenEQUIPMENT MANAGER: Larry ChinATHLETIC TRAINER: Ann DovenmuehlerSPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR: Mark Wasik

2005-06 lady rebels

Pronunciation GuideNejlah Clark (NAHJ-laa)Brittany Halberg (HALL-burg)Shamela Hampton (sha-ME-lah)Sequoia Holmes (suh-COY-ah)Frozena Jerro (FRO-zeen-uh JARE-Oh)


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Eighth SeasonEighth SeasonEighth SeasonEighth SeasonEighth SeasonOld Dominion ‘84Old Dominion ‘84Old Dominion ‘84Old Dominion ‘84Old Dominion ‘84

UNLV head coach Regina Millerhas accomplished what she wasbrought to Las Vegas to do in1998 – resurrect and build theLady Rebels back into one of thenation’s premier programs.

Though the 2004-05 season turned into one of the morechallenging years Miller experienced as a coach, as a series ofinjuries at one point left UNLV with just one healthy starter, Millerstill guided the Lady Rebels to a 16-15 record. They also earned aspot in the WNIT to extend their postseason appearance streak tofive years, which is the longest in UNLV history, and second longestactive streak in the Mountain West Conference.

The previous season was possibly the best in her 13-yearcoaching career. She led the Lady Rebels to one of the mostsuccessful campaigns in school history, as UNLV finished with a26-8 overall record and advanced to its first-ever appearance in theWNIT championship game. The 26 victories tied for the third-mostever at UNLV, and were the most since the 1989-90 squad won aschool-record 28 games (28-3). UNLV also won a record 10 MWCgames (10-4) while finishing in sole possesion of third place in theleague. The Lady Rebels won 10 straight during the season,including 12 straight at home, where they finished with a 16-2 record.Miller also guided UNLV to a 3-1 record against the “powerconferences,” as the Lady Rebels recorded wins over Arizona State,Iowa State and Mississippi State during the season.

Three Lady Rebels also were named to the All-MWC teamsunder Miller during the 2003-04 season, with RanDee Henry andSherry McCracklin both earning Honorable Mention All-Americaas well.

Miller guided the 2002-03 Lady Rebel squad to a 17-12 markand an appearance in the WNIT, their third straight year in thepostseason. That came on the heels of the Lady Rebels’ outstandingseason in 2001-02, in which they earned their first NCAATournament berth since the 1994 season, and their eighth all-timeappearance. UNLV would receive votes for top 25 consideration,defeat nationally ranked opponents, produce a 10-game winningstreak, witness increased home attendance and make its way intothe MWC Tournament championship game.

regina miller

The Lady Rebels


The Lady Rebels’ date with destiny ended in the NCAA FirstRound against Minnesota, but no one could shake off the fact theteam had produced a remarkable 23-8 overall record, one of the bestseasons in school history. Miller, at the same time, mentored three-time MWC Player of the Year, three-time All-American and firstteam Academic All-America Linda Fröhlich to an outstandingcollegiate career after which she now stands as the school’s (men’sand women’s) all-time leading scorer, women’s all-time leadingrebounder and the first Lady Rebel to record 2,000 points and 1,000rebounds in a career.

In 1999-2000, Miller also guided her team to an impressive 19-10 overall record and an appearance in the WNIT. The previoustwo years, the North Carolina native led UNLV to back-to-back 17-win seasons after inheriting a squad that had only won four gamesin each of the previous three years. She turned her 1998-99 squadinto the most improved team in Division I women’s college basketballin just her first year at UNLV.

On Dec. 9, 2000, she reached a personal milestone by collectingher 100th career coaching victory against Eastern Washington. Ahome victory over South Florida 74-61 on Dec. 21, 2003, marked her100th win at UNLV.

Only the sixth head coach in the 30-year history of the LadyRebel program, she currently holds the fourth best winningpercentage among UNLV women’s basketball coaches all-time witha 135-76 (.640) overall record.

Miller has also been recognized by the Las Vegas communitytwice in the last two years, as this past season she was one of five

to be honored with the annual Portraits of Pride Award from Channel8, which is given to five outstanding African-Americans in the city.The previous summer, she received the 2004 Enrichment Award forSports from the Las Vegas Urban Chamber of Commerce.

She has also been successful on the fundraising side of thejob. In January of 2003, Miller raised the largest donation evermade to the UNLV women’s basketball program in the amount of$500,000 donated by local businessman Gary Ackerman on behalfformer Lady Rebel standout Linda Staley Ackerman.

Miller came to UNLV after spending six seasons (1992-98) asthe head coach at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. Whileat WIU, she led the Westerwinds to the 1995 Mid-ContinentConference regular season and tournament titles as well as anappearance in the NCAA Tournament. For her efforts, she washonored as the 1995 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s

Career Highlights• Has a 135-76 record after seven years as the Lady Rebels’ coach, rankingher third all-time at the school in career wins and has a 64.0 win percentage.Also has a 5-5 record in the postseason at UNLV.• Under Miller, the Lady Rebels have advanced to the postseason the lastfive years, which is the longest stretch in school history.• Despite losing All-American candidate Sherry McCracklin to a season-long injury in 2004-05, coached UNLV to its’ seventh straight winningseason and a trip to the WNIT.• Guided the Lady Rebels to one of the best seasons in school history in2003-04, as UNLV made its first-ever appearances in the WNITchampionship game.• Led UNLV to a 26-8 record, its best since the 1989-90 team won aschool record 28 games. The 26 wins tied for third-most in schoolhistory, the four wins in the WNIT were the most in postseason historyfor UNLV, and the Lady Rebels won a record 10 games in MWC play.• In 2002-03, led the Lady Rebels to the WNIT and a 17-12 record.• Recruited and coached Constance Jinks, the program’s second WNBAdraft pick.• In 2001-02, led the Lady Rebels to their first NCAA Tournamentappearance since 1994, finishing the year with a remarkable 23-8 (.742)overall record.• Recruited and coached the program’s first WNBA draft pick, LindaFröhlich, to national All-America and Academic All-America recognitionin 2002.• UNLV advanced to the MWC Tournament championship game in 2002for the first time since joining the three-year-old conference during the1999-2000 season.• Directed the Lady Rebels to their first 19+ winning season in seven yearsand to a WNIT appearance during the 2000-01 campaign.• Guided UNLV to back-to-back 17-win seasons after inheriting a squadthat had won only four games in each of the previous three years.• Led UNLV to a 17-11 mark in 1998-99, its best season since 1993-94.• Directed the Lady Rebels to become the most improved team based onwin-loss record from the 1997-98 season to the 1998-99 season.• Coached Linda Fröhlich to National Freshman of the Year honors byboth the Women’s Basketball Journal and the United States BasketballWriters Association after Fröhlich led the conference in scoring andfinished tops in the nation among freshmen in scoring at 23.5 ppg.• Posted the school’s first-ever MWC Tournament victory.• Guided the Lady Rebels into the new Mountain West Conference in1999-2000, leading them to their first winning conference record (8-6)since the 1994-95 season.• Led UNLV to its first-ever WAC Tournament berth and first-ever WACTournament win in 1998-99.• Has led the Lady Rebels to an impressive 83-24 home record over thepast seven years.

head coach profile


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regina millerCoach of the Year, and was the Mid-ConCoach of the Year in 1993-94.

Prior to earning the post at WIU, Millerspent five years as an assistant coach ather alma mater and national power OldDominion from 1987-92. ODU reached theNCAA Tournament four of the five yearsshe was there. Miller has taken two teamsto the NCAA Tournament (UNLV in 2002and Western Illinois in 1995) as a Division Ihead coach.

She landed her first assistant coachingposition at Arizona (1986-87) and spent twoyears (1985-86) as a graduate assistant atWestern Kentucky, a team that advanced tothe NCAA Final Four in both years.

In addition to Miller’s experience at thecollege level, she has been an internationalcoach as well. Four summers ago, sheserved as a court coach at the 2000 USABasketball Women’s Summer DevelopmentCamp in Colorado Springs, Colo. The campdeveloped not only the elite players in theUnited States, but also acted as the trials toselect the U.S. Jones Cup team.

Miller was an assistant coach for theUSA National Team at the 1997 WorldChampionships Qualifier in Sao Palo, Brazil,and served as the floor coach for the U.S.Olympic Festival’s North Team Tryouts in1995.

“You have hit the jackpot,” said NancyLieberman-Cline when asked about Millerafter her hiring in 1998. “How appropriatefor the city. She is one of the finest peopleyou could ever hire and she is a fantasticcoach. Players love to play for her, shecommunicates well and she was anexceptional player.

“She is the type of person you wantout front to represent the university. Giveher time and she will build a solid traditionin Las Vegas.” Lieberman-Cline’s predictioncould not have been more right on themoney, as Miller has registered sevenconsecutive winning seasons at UNLV.

Prior to playing professionally for theVirginia Waves in 1984, Miller spent twoyears playing at Old Dominion helping leadthe Lady Monarchs to the NCAA Final Four.Before her career at ODU, she played atLouisburg (N.C.) Junior College where sheearned All-America honors and led them tothe JC national championship her freshmanyear in 1981.

Miller is a 1984 graduate of OldDominion earning a bachelor’s degree inrecreation. She received her master’s degreefrom Western Kentucky in 1986.

The Miller FileThe Miller FileThe Miller FileThe Miller FileThe Miller File

EducationEducationEducationEducationEducationOld Dominion (Norfolk, Va.)1981-84 - Bachelors’ degree in recreationWestern Kentucky (Bowling Green, Ky.)1984-86 - Masters’ degree

Assistant CoachAssistant CoachAssistant CoachAssistant CoachAssistant CoachYear School Conference Overall Postseason1984-85 Western Ky. 5-1 28-6 NCAA Final Four1985-86 Western Ky. 6-0 32-4 NCAA Final Four1986-87 Arizona 4-10 11-18 --1987-88 Old Dominion 6-0 17-12 NCAA 2nd Round1988-89 Old Dominion 5-1 23-9 NCAA 2nd Round1989-90 Old Dominion 4-2 21-10 NCAA 2nd Round1990-91 Old Dominion 2-4 5-21 --1991-92 Old Dominion 9-5 20-11 NCAA 1st RoundOverall 41-23 (.641) 157-91 (.633) 8 years

Head CoachHead CoachHead CoachHead CoachHead CoachYear School Conference Finish Overall Postseason1992-93 W. Illinois 1-15 8th 3-21 ---1993-94 W. Illinois 11-7 3rd 15-13 ---1994-95 W. Illinois 14-4 T-1st 17-11 NCAA 1st Round1995-96 W. Illinois 8-10 8th 10-17 ---1996-97 W. Illinois 4-12 3rd 7-20 ---1997-98 W. Illinois 5-11 7th 8-18 ---Total at Western Illinois 43-59 (.422) 60-100 (.600) Six years1998-99 UNLV 7-7 T-4th 17-11 ---1999-00 UNLV 8-6 5th 17-12 ---2000-01 UNLV 8-6 T-3rd 19-10 WNIT 2nd Round2001-02 UNLV 8-6 4th 23-8 NCAA 1st Round2002-03 UNLV 8-6 T-3rd 17-12 WNIT 1st Round2003-04 UNLV 10-4 3rd 26-8 WNIT Runner-up2004-05 UNLV 6-8 T-5th 16-15 WNIT 1st RoundTotal at UNLV 55-43 (.561) 135-76 (.640) Seven yearsOverall 98-102 (.490) 195-176 (.526) 13 years

The Lady Rebels


Frozena JerroFrozena JerroFrozena JerroFrozena JerroFrozena JerroAssistant Coach (Fourth Season)Assistant Coach (Fourth Season)Assistant Coach (Fourth Season)Assistant Coach (Fourth Season)Assistant Coach (Fourth Season)

Arizona State ‘93Arizona State ‘93Arizona State ‘93Arizona State ‘93Arizona State ‘93Frozena Jerro begins her fourth year on the UNLV coaching staff this season. She primarily works

with recruiting and with the guards.Formerly the head women’s basketball coach at Cal State Northridge, Jerro compiled a 48-41 (.539)

winning record over four and half years at CSUN. She guided the Matadors to their first-ever NCAATournament appearance in 1999. Jerro was also named Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 as theMatadors won the conference regular season and tournament titles.

She first began her coaching career at the University of Houston serving as a graduate assistant coach from 1993-95. While withthe Cougars, Jerro served as a recruiter and on-floor coach, working mainly with the guards on the team.

Throughout her basketball career, she has enjoyed success both as a player and coach at the collegiate level. A two-yearbasketball letterwinner and team captain at Arizona State University, Jerro was a member of the Pac-10 Conference All-Star Team in 1992and a member of the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival Team in 1990. During her junior season, she averaged 8.7 points per game as the SunDevils advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1992.

Prior to ASU, Jerro played two seasons at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., where the Gaels posted a 40-16 record and wonthe West Coast Conference title twice during her career. As a freshman, Jerro led the team and conference in steals (100) enroute to All-WCC honorable mention honors and a spot on the WCC All-Freshman Team.

Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, Jerro earned her bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Arizona State in 1993.She was also a four-time all-conference basketball player during her prep career at Cathedral High School in San Francisco. She currentlyresides in Las Vegas.

Anthony TurnerAnthony TurnerAnthony TurnerAnthony TurnerAnthony TurnerAssistant Coach (Fourth Season)Assistant Coach (Fourth Season)Assistant Coach (Fourth Season)Assistant Coach (Fourth Season)Assistant Coach (Fourth Season)

Colorado ‘00Colorado ‘00Colorado ‘00Colorado ‘00Colorado ‘00Anthony Turner is in his fourth season with the UNLV women’s basketball program after previously

serving as an assistant coach at conference rival San Diego State. He is responsible for the scouting ofopponents, as well as recruiting and working with the post players.

While at SDSU, Turner assisted with the day-to-day operations of the program as well as withrecruiting, scouting reports, film exchange, court instruction and conditioning. He mainly worked with thedevelopment of the guards and directed summer camps for the Aztecs.

Prior to his appointment at San Diego State, Turner played collegiate basketball for two seasons at Westminster College inFulton, Mo. He later enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1996.

While at CU, Turner served as a student assistant for the women’s basketball program under head coach Ceal Barry from 1997-99. His responsibilities included assisting the coaching staff with scouting reports, game-day grades for players, editing practice tapes,assisting with drills and recording game statistics.

A member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and a certified personal trainer, Turner served as anassistant coach from 1999-2000 for the Mile High Magic AAU girls basketball team, one of the most successful club programs in thecountry.

Originally from Oklahoma City, Okla., Turner earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Colorado in 2000.He was a two-sport scholar-athlete during his prep career at the Casady School in Oklahoma City, where he was a National Merit Scholarand an honors graduate. He currently resides in Las Vegas.

coaching staff


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Assistant Coach (Second Season)Assistant Coach (Second Season)Assistant Coach (Second Season)Assistant Coach (Second Season)Assistant Coach (Second Season)BYU ‘03BYU ‘03BYU ‘03BYU ‘03BYU ‘03

Melanie Pearson is in her second year on the Lady Rebel staff and works primarily with the smallforwards.

Pearson played for three years at UCLA, from 1996-97 to 1998-99, and helped the Bruins to the secondround of the NCAA Tournament in 1998 and the NCAA West Regional final in 1999. She then left the schoolafter the 1999 season to serve an 18-month LDS mission in Portugal. She made her mark on the Bruins’record book in only three seasons, as she ranked second all-time in three-pointers made with 115, and third

in three-point percentage at 40.1 percent. Her 49 treys as a sophomore was also the second-highest mark at UCLA, as was her three-pointpercentage that year of 45.0 percent (49-of-109).

Following the completion of her mission, Pearson joined BYU for her senior season in 2001-02, and helped the Cougars to a 24-9 record and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. A third-team All-Mountain West Conference selection, she led the Cougars to the 2002 MWCTournament championship after scoring a team-high 15 points in the tournament final. Her 41.8 percent three-point shooting ranks eighthall-time in a season at BYU.

Pearson earned her bachelor’s degree in geographic information systems in December of 2003 from BYU. A native of Irvine,Calif., she currently resides in Las Vegas.

coaching staff

The Lady Rebels


Amanda VanZebenAmanda VanZebenAmanda VanZebenAmanda VanZebenAmanda VanZebenStudent AssistantStudent AssistantStudent AssistantStudent AssistantStudent AssistantSecond SeasonSecond SeasonSecond SeasonSecond SeasonSecond Season

support staff

Ann DovenmuehlerAnn DovenmuehlerAnn DovenmuehlerAnn DovenmuehlerAnn Dovenmuehler

Assistant Athletic TrainerSixth Season

Serving the women’s basketball team’smedical needs is Ann Dovenmuehler, who is in hersixth season as an assistant athletic trainer at UNLV.

Dovenmuehler, who also works with thewomen’s golf team and oversees the volleyball,track and field and cross country programs, broughtmuch experience in athletic training when she came

to Las Vegas from Minnesota in 2000. While with the Gophers, she spentthree years in the women’s department working with basketball,gymnastics, golf, cross country and track and field. In addition to hertraining room duties, she was a co-instructor of an advanced athletictraining class offered in the Minnesota internship program.

Prior to her stint at Minnesota, Dovenmuehler spent five years atKansas State (1992-97) as the primary trainer for women’s basketball,women’s tennis, women’s crew, men’s and women’s golf and baseball.

Larry ChinLarry ChinLarry ChinLarry ChinLarry Chin

Coordinator of Athletic Equipment27th Season

Larry Chin is in his 27th season as the coor-dinator of athletic equipment at UNLV.

A longtime Las Vegan since 1964, Chin hasbeen with the Rebels for the last 30 years and hasworked as an equipment manager with almost ev-ery athletic program at the institution.

Chin currently oversees and handles equip-ment for 14 of the 17 intercollegiate sports at UNLV. He works mainlywith the women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, soft-ball, volleyball and women’s cross country and track and field programs.

Only one-of-two current or past staff members to participate in all fourmen’s basketball NCAA Final Four appearances, which included the 1990National Championship title, Chin and former head coach Jerry Tarkanianare the only two to have witnessed the Runnin’ Rebels postseason suc-cess in 1977, 1987, 1990 and 1991.

Chin is an inducted team member of seven UNLV Hall of Fame and twoSouthern Nevada Hall of Fame teams.

He and his wife, Onn, reside in Las Vegas and have one son, Nathan.They are the proud grandparents of their first grandchild, Zachary PaulChin, born on April 24, 2001. In his spare time, Chin enjoys running andphotography.

Amanda VanZeben is in her second year as a student assistant for the Lady Rebels. VanZeben has severalyears of coaching experience at both the high school and college level. Most recently, she was an assistant coach forGrayson County College from 2002-03. She also spent one year as the head girls’ basketball coach at Lone Peak Highin Highland, Utah. Prior to that coaching position, she was an assistant coach at Brighton High in Salt Lake City (2000-01), and an assistant at Lone Peak High in Highland, Utah, from 1997-2000.

She has also spent several summers coaching AAU teams, including the Utah Hoopzz team for one summer,and the Utah Avalanche team for three summers. She is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in sociology atUNLV. A native of Murray, Utah, VanZeben currently resides in Henderson.

Julie JohnsonJulie JohnsonJulie JohnsonJulie JohnsonJulie Johnson

Academic AdvisorFifth Season

Overseeing the academic areas for the men’sbasketball, women’s basketball and softball pro-grams at UNLV is advisor Julie Johnson.

Johnson earned a bachelor’s in English fromWestfield State College in 1985 and a master’s inEnglish literature from UNLV in 1990.

She was also an academic advisor for UNLVAthletics from 1994-96 before leaving to become the coordinator of theCommunity Learning Center at Griswold (Conn.) High School. She wasthe allied health counselor for the Outreach and Admissions Departmentat Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, Conn., from 1997-99,college publicist (1998-99) and Tech-Prep Liaison (1999-2001) at ThreeRivers and a visiting professor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2000-01 before rejoining UNLV in her current role.

Johnson was a lecturer in UNLV’s English Department from1990-94 and was an assistant academic advisor for the Rebel softball teamin 1991-92. She also was a copy editor and staff writer for What’s On inLas Vegas Magazine in 1990-91.

Johnson has two children, Mark, Jr. (9) and Morgan (5).

She also assisted with the football team, taught classes and supervisedstudent assistants and the day-to-day operations of the training room.

She also served as the head athletic trainer for two professional basketballorganizations during her career. Dovenmuehler spent one season with theSioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association in 1989-90, before joining the Calgary 88s of the World Basketball League in 1990.

A native of South Dakota, Dovenmuehler earned her bachelor’s degreein athletic training in 1989 from Mankato State. She later received hermaster’s degree in sport psychology from the Oklahoma in 1992.

Dovenmuehler currently resides in Henderson and is single.

Jodi NashJodi NashJodi NashJodi NashJodi Nash

Strength & Conditioning CoachSecond Season

Jodi Nash is in her second year at UNLVand in overseeing the Lady Rebels’ strength andconditioning program.

She came to Las Vegas from Harvard, whereshe spent two years as assistant director ofstrength and conditioning. She was responsible


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Mark WasikMark WasikMark WasikMark WasikMark Wasik

Women’s Basketball SIDThird Season

Mark Wasik is in his third year as an assistantsports information director at UNLV. He is in chargeof all the daily media relations and publicity effortsfor the Lady Rebels as well as for men’s and women’ssoccer and the men’s and women’s swimming anddiving programs at UNLV. Prior to UNLV, Wasik was assistant athletic media

relations director at South Alabama, where he served as the contact forwomen’s basketball, volleyball, and men’s and women’s tennis. He alsowas the coordinator and responsible for all of the content on the Jaguars’in-house athletic department website.

Lauren ZarickiLauren ZarickiLauren ZarickiLauren ZarickiLauren Zaricki

Marketing AssistantThird Season

Lauren Zaricki is in her third season as themarketing and promotions coordinator for the LadyRebels.

She is directly in charge and responsible forall marketing campaigns and promotions for theLady Rebels, as well as with women’s soccer,volleyball and softball. In addition, she helps with

football and men’s basketball.Originally from Broken Arrow, Okla., Zaricki earned her bachelor’s

degree in business administration from Friends University in Wichita,Kan. One year later she received her master’s degree in sportsadministration from Wichita State University, while also working as anintern in the sports marketing department.

Zaricki currently resides in Las Vegas with her husband Justin.

support staff

CAROL HOPKINSAdministrative

Assistant

JAKE GUTIERREZPublic Address

Announcer

Dr. Hal K. RothmanDr. Hal K. RothmanDr. Hal K. RothmanDr. Hal K. RothmanDr. Hal K. Rothman

Faculty Athletics RepresentativeFifth Season

Serving as faculty representative for UNLVAthletics since the 2001 school year is renownedLas Vegas historian Dr. Hal K. Rothman.

As a faculty representative, a designeeholding faculty rank outside of the athleticsdepartment, Rothman represents the institutionand its faculty in relationships with the NCAA

and the Mountain West Conference and oversees the regular certificationof all UNLV student-athletes and coaches.

The chairman of the Department of History at UNLV, Rothmanjoined the school in 1992 after serving as an assistant professor at WichitaState from 1987-92. Considered one of the foremost experts on theculture of Las Vegas and all the West, Rothman has authored numerousbooks and articles, including Neon Metropolis: How Las Vegas StartedThe Twenty-First Century (2002) and Devil’s Bargains: Tourism in theTwentieth Century American West (1998), which received the 1999Western Writers of America Spur Award for Contemporary Nonfiction.Also, his book LBJ’s Texas White House (2001) won the TexasPhilosophical Society’s 2002 Award of Merit and his later volume, TheCulture of Tourism, the Tourism of Culture, received the Border RegionalLibrary Association’s Southwest Book Award for 2003.

Labeled by Slate magazine as “the foremost guru of the new LasVegas,” Rothman has frequently been quoted by numerous major mediaoutlets. Additionally, he hosts “Our Metropolis,” a public affairs programon KUNV-91.5 radio in Las Vegas.

A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, heearned his bachelor’s degree in 1980 before attending the Unviersity ofTexas, where he received his master’s degree in 1982 and earned his doctoratethree years later.

Wasik spent three years as assistant sports information director atUNC Greensboro, where he oversaw nine sports during his time there,including women’s basketball, women’s soccer, softball, and volleyball.

He spent the 1998-99 year as an intern in the Georgetown sportsinformation office, and worked with eight sports, including baseball andwomen’s soccer, and was second contact for football and women’sbasketball.

Wasik was a volunteer graduate student assistant in the Tennesseewomen’s media relations office while working towards his master’s degreein athletic administration, which he received in December of 1998. Heworked with all the Lady Vol teams, including the 1997-98 women’sbasketball national championship team.

During the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Wasik served as a presssteward in the media center at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, whichhosted swimming, diving, and water polo competitions.

As an undergraduate student at Florida State, Wasik worked in thesports information office for two and a half years, and received a bachelorof arts degree in sport management in April of 1997.

Wasik has worked several championship events, including at fourNCAA men’s basketball tournaments and two women’s tournaments, aswell as the 2003 NCAA Men’s Final Four in New Orleans.

A native of Chapel Hill, N.C., Wasik is a member of both the CollegeSports Information Directors of America and the U.S. Basketball WritersAssociation. He is also a member of the CoSIDA Academic All-Americancommittee. Wasik currently resides in Henderson and is single.

for overseeing over 30 teams, including football, men’s and women’s bas-ketball, baseball, softball, women’s soccer, and women’s ice hockey. Priorto Harvard, she spent time as assistant strength and condition coach atUSC, SMU, Springfield College, Holy Cross, and Ohio State. A 1996graduate from Springfield College with a bachelor’s degree in health fit-ness, she also received her master’s degree in Applied Exercise Science in2000, also from Springfield.

Nash currently resides in Las Vegas and is single.

The Lady Rebels


Sheena MooreSheena MooreSheena MooreSheena MooreSheena Moore

5-7 • Senior • GuardLansing, Mich.

Nejlah ClarkNejlah ClarkNejlah ClarkNejlah ClarkNejlah Clark

5-9 • Senior • GuardDetroit, Mich.

111110000000000Kameca SimmonsKameca SimmonsKameca SimmonsKameca SimmonsKameca Simmons

5-9 • Junior • GuardCompton, Calif.

Brittany HalbergBrittany HalbergBrittany HalbergBrittany HalbergBrittany Halberg

5-7 • Freshman • GuardLake Oswego, Ore.

Shavonne BurksShavonne BurksShavonne BurksShavonne BurksShavonne Burks

5-6 • Junior • GuardDenver, Colo.

Sequoia HolmesSequoia HolmesSequoia HolmesSequoia HolmesSequoia Holmes

6-1 • Sophomore • ForwardLas Vegas, Nev.

12121212121010101010Latosha PaceLatosha PaceLatosha PaceLatosha PaceLatosha Pace

5-11 • Sophomore • GuardDetroit, Mich.

Faye MullerFaye MullerFaye MullerFaye MullerFaye Muller

6-3 • Junior • ForwardAurora, Colo.

Brittney ThomasBrittney ThomasBrittney ThomasBrittney ThomasBrittney Thomas

5-7 • Senior • GuardLakewood, Calif.

Nikki HitchensNikki HitchensNikki HitchensNikki HitchensNikki Hitchens

5-11 • Senior • ForwardLas Vegas, Nev.

21212121212020202020Latoya HuntLatoya HuntLatoya HuntLatoya HuntLatoya Hunt

6-3 • Freshman • ForwardFresno, Calif.

Shamela HamptonShamela HamptonShamela HamptonShamela HamptonShamela Hampton

6-3 • Freshman • CenterColorado Springs, Colo.

Sherry McCracklinSherry McCracklinSherry McCracklinSherry McCracklinSherry McCracklin

6-2 • Senior • ForwardHazel Crest, Ill.

Kisha LeeKisha LeeKisha LeeKisha LeeKisha Lee

6-0 • Junior • ForwardChicago, Ill.

32323232322525252525

Tiffani BurriesTiffani BurriesTiffani BurriesTiffani BurriesTiffani Burries

6-4 • Junior • CenterCompton, Calif.

Samantha SticklerSamantha SticklerSamantha SticklerSamantha SticklerSamantha Stickler

6-6 • Freshman • CenterGrand Canyon, Ariz.

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