The UNLV Lady Rebels (7-4) are looking to close out at home in non-conference play in a doubleheader with the men’s team as they both face the UCR Highlanders (6-5).
The Lady Rebels are coming into this game fresh off a close loss in overtime against the Northwestern Wildcats, 79-76.
This is the seventh game between the Lady Rebels and Highlanders. They last met in 2017-18 season, and the Highlanders won, 95-88. UCR comes into this game with a win over Utah State, the Lady Rebels Mountain West nemesis 74-59. The Highlanders are led by Shelley Duchemin, averaging 11.9 points per game, Esther Matarranz, who averages 7.3 rebounds per game, and Zoe Tillery, who averages 2.1 assists per game.
On the other side of the court, the Lady Rebels fought hard in a shootout with the Northwestern Wildcats. Amarachi Kimpson came up big for the Lady Rebels scoring 28 points and going 9-for-14 from the field and 10-for-11 from the free-throw line. Sophomore McKinna Brackens led in the paint with eight rebounds and doled out a career-high five assists and three blocked shots.
The Lady Rebels must continue their smothering defense to force turnovers and turning up the intensity on the floor. Their best shot at rebounding after such a close loss is to get the lead and build on that lead to close out the game.
The Lady Rebels follow the Runnin’ Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, December 21st at 2:30 p.m.
