MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

A NNEWEW EERARA 2233 MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

The 2008-09 season has been proclaimed as “A New Era” for the coaching staff is asking from them. They are so determined to be Lady Rebel program, as former UNLV All-American Kathy successful in their fi nal season, and they are really passing on their work Olivier has returned to Las Vegas to take over as the head coach for her ethic to their teammates.” It’s not just the senior class that has Olivier alma mater. After 15 years as the coach at UCLA, where she led the excited about 2008-09, as she praises the underclassmen as well. “My Bruins to fi ve NCAA Tournament appearances, Olivier is excited about early thought on our team this year is that they are very coachable and the opportunity to help turn around the program and bring it back to focused on what we are asking them to do,” commented Olivier. “We national prominence. have some very good athletes on the team, as well as physical players in Olivier stated to the media when she arrived in Las Vegas that she the post and some good shooters as well. They have shown a willingness had one goal for the Lady Rebels, to build a championship basketball to do what is needed this year to succeed.” program. This goal would be achieved by working extremely hard, and Another positive for this year’s team is the overall number of having fun doing so. Entering the preseason, she is confi dent that this returnees, as UNLV brings back 11 players from last year’s squad, year’s squad can achieve that. “I feel very fortunate to have fi ve seniors including four starters. Joining that mix will be one freshman signed by on this year’s team, including two that have seen signifi cant time in this Olivier following her hire in April, Jamie Smith, Hawaii Gatorade Player conference since their sophomore years,” stated Olivier. “The whole team of the Year in 2007-08. has been working so hard through the summer, they seem to have bonded very well are very determined for us to be ready for the season.” Olivier’s trademark style of play that led her team to numerous top 25 GUARDS rankings as a coach at UCLA will continue at UNLV. “I want our players UNLV returns a very experienced group of guards, beginning with to play hard defensively, and to use our defense to create offense. If we three players who started games last year in Halberg, senior Dominique can do that, that will lead to an up-tempo offense, scoring baskets on the Harris and junior Allison Holiday. run and also in transition.” Halberg has been the Lady Rebels’ leader on the court since her The team will look to improve on its defensive numbers from a year sophomore season and makes very good decisions handling the ball, ago, as UNLV allowed its opponents to shoot 44% from the fl oor, and 36% owning a 1.37 /turnover ration last year while pacing the team with from three-point range. Defense has become one of Olivier’s main goals 82 assists. She can knock down the three-point shot, and is the team’s best for this season. “We just need to improve in all aspects on defense. I want shooter, making 81.2% of her attempts at the charity stripe in our players to take chances on defense, but at the same time, they need 2007-08 while also averaging 6.9 ppg. to have the discipline to work hard on the defensive end and be focused “Brittany is strong at all aspects of the game, she takes care of the 100% of the time. I always say that every defensive position ends with ball and can hit the open shot, and is very vocal, which helps in her the ball, we want to make sure that’s because of a or a .” leadership on the court,” said Olivier. Playing under a new coach and a new system is not the only big Harris averaged 7.0 ppg in her fi rst year in a UNLV jersey. Always change the Lady Rebels will be adjusting to this season. For the fi rst time a threat to go on a hot streak and scorch her opponent from downtown, in four years, UNLV will be without Sequoia Holmes in the lineup. The she made 21 three-pointers in 2007-08, top among returning players. Not Las Vegas native did almost everything for UNLV last year before earning just about offense, Harris is an athletic guard who will go to the boards her spot in the WNBA this past summer (with the Houston Comets), (her 4.0 rpg was third-best on the team) and also come up with steals as she paced the MWC in scoring with 18.3 ppg and also led UNLV in (18). “Dominique is a versatile player, she can do a little of everything rebounding (7.3 rpg), fi eld goals made, three-pointers made, free throws for us,” said Olivier. “Very aggressive on the court, she is fast with a great made, three-point percentage, steals and was second in both assists and fi rst step and one of our better shooters as well. Dominique has taken blocks. With just one other player last year averaging in double fi gures, on more of a leadership role, and really seems to be leading by example UNLV’s success this year looks to ride on fi nding players who can step with how she’s approaching the season.” up this year and help fi ll that scoring void, while also looking to have a Holiday, meanwhile, has started games in both her fi rst two years more balanced attack after relying on Holmes the past two seasons. on the Lady Rebel squad, and always brings the team a spark when As mentioned before, UNLV does boast fi ve seniors on its roster she’s on the court. “Allison works very hard and she really improved her this season, which includes guard Brittany Halberg and center Shamela level of conditioning over the summer,” said Olivier. “She does a good Hampton, who have been in the Lady Rebel starting lineup since their job of distributing the ball on offense with sophomore years. “I feel that her great court vision, and can hit the our senior class is really open shot, including from three- buying into the point range.” Holiday made what the 12 three-pointers

A NNEWEW EERARA BBEGINSEGINS FFOROR TTHEHE LLADYADY RREBELSEBELS IINN 22008-09008-09

2244 22008-09008-09 UNLVUNLV Women’sWomen’s BasketballBasketball MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM last year while shooting 78.3% at the line, and also came up with 29 steals, she will have a great senior season,” said Olivier. “She really has the ranking her third on the squad in 2007-08. potential to just dominate on the boards, and we could not ask for more Next is a trio of sophomores who all gained vaulable experience in terms of her leadership and passion for the game.” coming off the bench last season and have the potential to make a bigger Backing up Hampton will be junior Latoya Hunt, who was played impact in 2008-09. First is Erica Helms, who played in 27 games last at both forward and center in her time in Las Vegas. “Latoya is a very year and averaged 3.0 ppg while also recording 13 steals. “Erica is the hard worker and possesses a long reach, which is a benefi t to us in the quickest player we have in running up and down the court, she will push post.” Hunt appeared in 25 games last year and had a strong game off the ball on the break, and has really showed an improvement over the the bench to help UNLV claim a win over Colorado State on Jan. 9 in past few months in fi nishing her shots better.” Las Vegas. Freshman Brittani Smith, a native of Coweta High School, India Chaney and Kalie Scanlon appeared in 18 and 17 games, will also give the Lady Rebels depth at the center position. respectively, for UNLV last season. “India is very athletic and has a scorer’s mentality. She will take the ball right to the basket and just needs some more experience to really improve as a player,” said Olivier. “Kalie, SCHEDULE meanwhile came in the most fi t of everyone into preseason. She is really This year’s Lady Rebel schedule features several challenging prepared to have a good sophomore year. She can hit the open shot and opponents, but at the same time will give the team 18 home games, a is showing an ability to use her change of pace to her benefi t. big advantage for a team in its fi rst season under Olivier. “We are going The one newcomer to the Lady Rebel roster this season is Smith, who to be tested early in the year, and that’s good, because our goal is to be could see time as both a guard and a forward this year. “Jamie is another ready for Mountain West Conference play. The MWC is one of the top versitale player for us. She can play inside and out and just knows how conferences in the nation, and we hope to be prepare for that through the to get in position to score baskets. A good athlete with a strong basketball experience of our non-conference schedule.” knowledge, she will defi nitely see signifi cant time on the court this year.” The fi rst game of the Kathy Olivier era will be on Nov. 14, with Smith averaged 19.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.5 steals and UNLV hosting Sacramento State in the Cox Pavilion. That will be the 1.4 assists per game and was named Interscholastic League of Honolulu fi rst of a fi ve-game homestand, which also features in-state rival Nevada, Player of the Year while playing for Iolani High School. Reno making a visit on Nov. 21, and the Lady Rebel Round-Up on Nov. 28-29 on Thanksgivinganksgiving weekend. That tourney fi eld is madee up ooff CCalal SStatetate FFullerton,ullerton, FORWARDS Eastern Washingtonhington and SEC power While the Lady Rebels are the most inexperienced at the forward Georgia. A tthree-gamehree-game road swing position (the four forwards on the roster have a combined total of 26 follows, with trtripsipps to Texas Tech ((Dec.Dec. career Divison I starts), this is also where the team has perhaps the most 2), Loyola MMarymountarymount (Dec. 9) and potential, and that begins with senior Raquel Jupiter. A JC transfer last Oregon Statee ((Dec.Dec. 15). UNLV then year, Jupiter started in 14 games and really started to come on strong near hosts a pre-ChristmasChhristmas tournament, the end of the season, averaging 5.5 rebounds over the fi nal eight games The Desert DDrawraw at UNLVUNLV,, on of the year after a 2.2 average through the fi rst 22 contests. “Raquel has a Dec. 19-20, wwithith Cal State great body for women’s basketball. She’s got a long reach with her arms, Northridge, SSouthernouthern Miss she’s very quick and will go up and fi ght for rebounds,” noted Olivier. and (2008 NNCAACAA Sweet Another senior who played her fi rst year in 2007-08 after a JC career 16 Participants)nts) Oklahoma is Shannon Oberg, a good rebounder who also can knock down the ball State, makingg tthehe visitvisit.. from long range, having made 13 three-pointers. “Shannon has great The fundamentals, good footwork and a very nice shot,” said Olivier. “We Lady Rebelss expect her to make more plays defensively this year and that will really open MWC improve her entire overall game.” play on Jan. Karla Gergelova played in 17 games for the Lady Rebels 7 at defendingg last year, and showed a good rebounding ability. She also gained MWC championsmpions international experience this summer while playing in the European U-20 New Mexico andand play Championships for the Czech Republic. She scored 23 points and grabbed their fi rst MWCWC home game 24 rebounds while helping her team to a 10th place fi nish. “Karla is strong on Jan. 10 againstgainst TCU. For and quick and came in this preseason in great shape. A team player, she the third straightaight year, the is willing to do the little things on the court that we ask her to do to help MWC Tournamentnament will us win.” be played in LLasas VeVegas,gas, as the 2009 tournamentournament will be held iinn UUNUNLV’sLV’s CENTER Thomas & MMackack CenteCenterr Senior center Hampton is the top returning center in the Mountain West Conference, on March 10-14.-14. as she made an impressive recovery from double-knee sugery in the 2007 Shamela Hampton offseason to post a double-double in her fi rst game back. A two-time All-MWC selection, she fi nished in the top 12 in the league last year in scoring (11th with 12.1 ppg), rebounding (eighth with 6.6 rpg), fi eld goal percentage (46.6%) and blocks (10th with 0.93 bpg). She uses her size and strength to establish her presence in the paint, and if the Lady Rebels got her the ball in the paint it usually resulted in a basket. “Shamela is a great athlete and if she does all the little things like we want from her, A NNEWEW EERARA 25 22008-09008-09 LAADYDY REEBELSBELS MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

2008-09 ROSTER BREAKDOWN STARTERS RETURNING (4) BY CLASS Shamela Hampton C Sr. (12.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg) SENIORS (5) Dominique Harris G Sr. (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) Brittany Halberg Brittney Halberg G Sr. (6.9 ppg, 2.8 apg) Shamela Hampton Raquel Jupiter F Sr. (2.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg) Dominique Harris Raquel Jupiter STARTERS LOST (1) Shannon Oberg Sequioa Holmes F Sr. (18.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg) JUNIORS (2) OTHER LETTERWINNERS RETURNING (7) Allison Holiday Allison Holiday G Jr. (3.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg) Latoya Hunt Erica Helms G So. (3.0 pp, 0.9 rpg) Shannon Oberg F Sr. (2.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg) SOPHOMORES (5) India Chaney G So. (1.7 ppg, 0.4 rpg) India Chaney Latoya Hunt C Sr. (1.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg) Karla Gergelová Kalie Scanlon G So. (1.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg) Erica Helms Karla Gergelova F So. (0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg) Sandrine Nzeukou Kalie Scanlon OTHER LETTERWINNERS LOST (1) Fanny Tirtiaux F Fr. (2.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg) FRESHMEN (2) Jamie Smith NEWCOMERS (3) Brittani Smith Brittani Smith C 6-3, Fr. (Coweta, Okla./Coweta HS) Jamie Smith G/F 6-0, Fr. (Kailua, Hawaii/Iolani HS) *Sandrine Nzeukou C 6-2, So. (Tucson, Ariz./UT-Arlington) BY STATE * - Will sit out the 2008-09 season due to NCAA transfer rules CALIFORNIA (4) Dominique Harris (Los Angeles) CZECH Erica Helms (Antioch) Latoya Hunt (Fresno) REPUBLIC Raquel Jupiter (Los Angeles)

ARIZONA (2) Allison Holiday (Kayenta) Sandrine Nzeukou (Tucson)

OREGON (2) Brittany Halberg (Lake Oswego) Kalie Scanlon (Salem)

COLORADO (1) Shamela Hampton (Colorado Springs)

HAWAII (1) Jamie Smith (Kailua)

LOUISIANA (1) India Chaney (New Orleans)

NEW YORK (1) Shannon Oberg (Islip)

OKLAHOMA (1) Brittani Smith (Coweta)

CZECH REPUBLIC (1) Karla Gergelová (Zlin)

2266 2008-09 UNLV Women’s Basketball 22008-09008-09 LAADYDY REEBELSBELS MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

2008-09 LADY REBELS ROSTER NO. NAME POS. HT. CL. EXP. HOMETOWN /PREVIOUS SCHOOL 1 Dominique Harris G 5-10 Sr. 1L Los Angeles, Calif./Gonzaga 3 *Sandrine Nzeukou C 6-2 So. TR Tucson, Ariz./Texas-Arlington 5 Brittany Halberg G 5-7 Sr. 3L Lake Oswego, Ore./Lakeridge HS 10 Allison Holiday G 5-6 Jr. 2L Kayenta, Ariz./Monument Valley HS 11 Jamie Smith G/F 6-0 Fr. HS Kailua, Hawaii/Iolani HS 15 Erica Helms G 5-7 So. 1L Antioch, Calif./Deer Valley HS 20 Kalie Scanlon G 5-9 So. 1L Salem, Ore./West Salem HS 23 Latoya Hunt C 6-3 RS-Jr. 2L Fresno, Calif./Edison HS 24 Shamela Hampton C 6-3 Sr. 3L Colorado Springs, Colo./Sierra HS 25 Raquel Jupiter F 6-1 Sr. 1L Los Angeles, Calif./El Camino CC 32 India Chaney G 5-10 So. 1L New Orleans, La./McDonough 35 HS 33 Shannon Oberg F 6-0 Sr. 1L Islip, N.Y./Daytona Beach CC 42 Karla Gergelová F 6-1 So. 1L Zlin, Czech Republic/Ludvika Danka 55 Brittani Smith C 6-3 Fr. HS Coweta, Okla./Coweta HS * - Will sit out the season due to NCAA transfer rules

HEAD COACH: Kathy Olivier (UNLV ‘82 /First season) ASSISTANT COACHES: Caitlin Collier (UC Davis ’93, First season) Kari Duperron (Cal Poly ’03, First season) PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Nikki Blue (UCLA ’06, First season) DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS: Elizabeth Linkous (Third season) Karla Gergelová (GRR-Guh-low-vah) VIDEO COORDINATOR: Rachel Dunn (First Season) Brittany Halberg (HALL-burg) HEAD STUDENT MANAGER: Steve Selby (Third Season) Shamela Hampton (sha-ME-lah) EQUIPMENT MANAGER: Larry Chin (13th season) Sandrine Nzeukou (ZOO-koo) ATHLETIC TRAINER: Michael Vera (First season) Kathy Olivier (o-LIV-e-a) ACADEMIC COUNSELOR: Lisa Levine (Second season) Kalie Scanlon (K-lee SCAN-lynn) STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH: Jodi Sabataso (Fifth season) SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR: Mark Wasik (Sixth season) A NNEWEW EERARA 2277 HEEADAD COOACHACH PRROFILEOFILE MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

When UNLV searched for its next women’s basketball coach, it didn’t have far to look as the school turned to one of its own by hiring former Lady Rebel All-American Kathy Olivier as the eighth full-time head coach in UNLV women’s basketball history on April 22, 2008. UNLV was hoping to fi nd a coach that has had both success on the national level and was a strong recruiter, and there’s no doubt that they found exactly what the team needed to help return it to its status as one of the nation’s top women’s basketball programs. “I’m so excited about the chance to come back to my alma mater,” said Olivier at the press conference announcing the return of the former Lady Rebel to UNLV. “I had an outstanding time here as a player and I never forgot the support from the fans, faculty, and the community while I was a Lady Rebel, I always remained a Lady Rebel and I hope we can keep that family atmosphere continuing here at UNLV. We are going to do everything we can do to make everyone proud of the Lady Rebel program.” Olivier came to UNLV after serving as head coach at UCLA for 15 years (from May 3, 1993, to March 11, 2008). While head coach gave Olivier her 200th career win. The Bruins advanced to the second of the Bruins she helped produce two Pac-10 Players of the Year, round of the NCAA Tournament and fi nished with a 21-11 record. three Pac-10 Freshmen of the Year, a Pac-10 team championship, a Olivier coached three AP and WBCA/Kodak honorable mention All- Pac-10 Tournament Championship and a trip to the 1999 Elite Eight. Americans in Quinn, Nikki Blue and Lisa Willis. The trio also earned Recognized as a top-notch recruiter, she steadily built the Bruin fi rst team All-Pac-10 honors, Quinn and Willis’ second and Blue’s program to refl ect her own positive, upbeat and outgoing personality, fourth, which made her just fi fth four-time fi rst team All-Pac-10 and is already on her way to transforming the Lady Rebels into a selection in conference history. Blue became the fi rst Bruin player conference contender. to lead the Pac-10 in assists, while Willis, the Pac-10 Tournament From 1998-2000, she led UCLA to a school-best three-straight MVP, led the league in steals for the third-straight season. UCLA’s NCAA tournament appearances. In her last 11 seasons as head 10-2 record in (.833) was the highest home court coach, Olivier guided the Bruins to seven top-four Pac-10 conference winning percentage posted by a Bruin team since the 1980-81 squad fi nishes, a total bettered by just one other conference foe. went 15-2 (.882). In her 15 seasons as UCLA head coach Olivier posted a 232-208 In 2005 Blue garnered her third-straight fi rst team All-Pac-10 overall mark. Her teams favor a running game on offense, which will honors, and Willis earned fi rst team recognition for the initial time. be a style familiar to Lady Rebel fans. But defense is also a Olivier However, the Bruins lost Quinn, the leading scorer and rebounder strong point. Seven of the 10 all-time UCLA top marks for lowest at the time, to a knee injury midway through the season and fi nished opponent fi eld percentages belong to Olivier-coached squads. sixth in the Pac-10 after posting non-conference wins over then-No. In 2008, forward Lindsey Pluimer earned honorable mention AP 4 ranked Texas and then-No. 14 Purdue. Quinn earned honorable All-America honors, as well as fi rst team All-Pac-10 acclaim. Also, mention all-conference and Pluimer was named to the all-conference UCLA’s win over second-ranked Stanford marked the program’s fi rst freshman team. ever over an opponent ranked higher than fourth in the AP poll. In 2004 Olivier’s Bruins earned a NCAA Tournament berth and Olivier’s 2006 squad fi nished the season strong, placing third in fi nished with a 17-13 overall record and a third-place Pac-10 fi nish. the Pac-10 regular-season standings and then winning the conference The team boasted the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Quinn, and a tournament for the fi rst time with wins on consecutive days over pair of all-conference performers in Quinn and Blue. California, Arizona State and Stanford. The Arizona State victory Olivier led the 2003 Bruins to 12 conference victories, a total

2288 22008-09008-09 UNLVUNLV Women’sWomen’s BasketballBasketball KAATHYTHY OLLIVIERIVIER MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

• Saw three of her recruits at UCLA earn Pac-10 Freshmen of the Year, COACHING HIGHLIGHTS Noelle Quinn, Maylana Martin and Erica Gomez • Led UCLA to fi ve NCAA Tournament Appearances • Ranks second on the UCLA all-time coaching list with 232 victories (1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006) • Guided UCLA to the NCAA Elite Eight in 1999 • Coached UCLA to the 1999 regular season Pac-10 championship (1999), PLAYING HONORS and the 2006 Pac-10 tournament title • All-American Honorable Mention - 1979-80 • Has coached two Kodak All-Americans and Pac-10 Players of the Year, (American Women’s Sports Foundation) Maylana Martin and Natalie Williams • Ranks second all-time at UNLV in career points per game (18.1), and eighth in career free throw percentage (76.8%) surpassed by only two other seasons in UCLA history. The 12 wins included fi ve on the road, a total bettered by only one other school that season. In 2002 Olivier guided a team, which lost its two leading scorers during the season, to the quarterfi nal round of the Pac-10 tournament. During the 2001 season, she guided a team, which was playing without eight of its top nine scorers from the previous season, to a winning record at home in Pac-10 play and to wins over two nationally ranked opponents. Olivier’s 2000 squad earned a NCAA Tournament berth for the third straight year and set a home attendance mark with an average of over 3,700 fans. The team battled injuries and a schedule that saw them tangle with three of the eventual Final Four teams and two others which advanced to the Elite Eight. Olivier’s best season at UCLA came in 1999, as she guided her team to the school’s fi rst-ever Pac-10 Conference championship and a best-ever Elite Eight fi nish in the NCAA tournament. A 26-8 record marked UCLA’s fi rst back-to-back 20-win seasons since a three-peat in the 1977-79 campaigns. The 26 wins were the most by a Bruin team since the 1981 squad went 29-7 and the third-highest in school annuls. The fi nal ranking of No. 7 in the nation was the highest ever for a UCLA team in the USA Today coaches poll and the best fi nish in any poll since a similar ranking in the Associated Press poll in 1981. In 1998 she directed a Bruin team that featured two Pac-10 Freshmen of the Year to the school’s best-ever conference fi nish at the time (second, 14-4) and the best winning percentage (20-9, .690) in 17 seasons. It was the fi rst 20-win season for a Bruin team since its last NCAA team won 21 in 1992. The season also marked the fi rst time a Bruin team had been ranked in the regular season Associated Kathy Oliver (#21 above) was an Honorable Mention All-American for the Lady Rebels in the 1979-80 season.

Press poll for more than a week’s time since 1982-83. Prior to taking over as the head coach, as an assistant Olivier was instrumental in landing two-sport standout Natalie Williams, recognized as the Pac-10’s Athlete of the Decade in a 1996 vote of conference offi cials. The dynamic Bruin coach originally joined the UCLA staff in the summer of 1986. In her seven seasons as an assistant, the team enjoyed fi ve winning years and reached the NCAA Tournament in two of the fi nal four years. In 1991-92, the Bruins compiled a record of 21-10 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Olivier began her coaching career at her alma mater, UNLV, as a graduate assistant in 1981-82. From there it was on to UC Irvine as an assistant coach (1982-83), and then USC, where she was on Remembering the past - Kathy Olivier talking with her college the Trojan staff for three years (1983-84 through 1985-86) as an coach at UNLV, Dan Ayala, and Brad Rothermel, the school’s assistant. USC, led by sophomore Cheryl Miller, won the NCAA title AD when Olivier was a graduate assistant coach for UNLV. in Olivier’s fi rst year (1984) and reached the championship game in

A NNEWEW EERARA 2299 KAATHYTHY OLLIVIERIVIER MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM her third season (1986). The former Kathy Ricks, Olivier was a standout player at Cal State Fullerton and then at UNLV. As a freshman (1977-78) at CSF, she averaged 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds her fi rst season and raised her scoring average to 19.3 as a sophomore. Making the move to Las Vegas for her fi nal two seasons, Olivier earned All-America honors while averaging a team-high 16.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in the 1979-80 season. The team fi nished with a 22-8 record under coach Dan Ayala and advanced to the AIAW Regionals in San Jose, where UNLV lost to USC 78-77 in overtime. In her fi nal year (1980- 81), she led the Lady Rebels in scoring (20.2) and ranked second in rebounding (9.2). She still ranks on several all-time lists at UNLV, as her career 18.1 ppg average is the second-highest in team history. She is also eighth in career free throw percentage (76.8%), and her 20.2 ppg her senior year ranks as the 10th best in a season for the Lady Rebels. Olivier played one year on the tennis team as well, in 1979. THE OLIVIER FILE A native of Placentia, Calif., Olivier comes from an accomplished athletic family, as her EDUCATION sister Mary Ricks played on UCLA’s national Cal State Fullerton (Fullerton, Calif.) championship softball teams in 1984 and 1985, 1977-79 and her brother Tom Ricks played on USC’s UNLV (Las Vegas) baseball team from 1975-77. Olivier passed 1979-81 - Bachelor of science degree in physical education on her athletic traits to her daughter, as she coached Alexis (20) on the UCLA squad in COACHING 2007 and 2008 Graduate Assistant Coach - UNLV (1981-82) Assistant Coach - UC Irvine (1982-83) Assistant Coach - USC (1983-86) Assistant Coach - UCLA (1986-93) Head Coach - UCLA (1993-2008) Head Coach - UNLV (2008-) HEAD COACHING RECORD Year School Conference Finish Overall Postseason 2003-04 UCLA 1993-94 UCLA 10-8 5th 15-12 1994-95 UCLA 5-13 T-8th 10-17 1995-96 UCLA 8-10 T-6th 13-14 1996-97 UCLA 7-11 6th 13-14 1997-98 UCLA 14-4 T-2nd 20-9 NCAA 2nd Round 1998-99 UCLA 15-3 T-1st 26-8 NCAA Regional Final 1999-00 UCLA 12-6 4th 18-11 NCAA 1st Round 2000-01 UCLA 5-13 10th 6-23 2001-02 UCLA 4-14 8th 9-20 2002-03 UCLA 12-6 4th 18-11 2003-04 UCLA 11-7 T-3rd 17-13 NCAA 1st Round 2004-05 UCLA 10-8 6th 16-12 2005-06 UCLA 12-6 3rd 21-11 NCAA 2nd Round 2006-07 UCLA 7-11 7th 14-18 2007-08 UCLA 10-8 T-4th 16-15 Overall 15 years 142-128 (.526) 232-208 (.527) 15 years Kathy Ricks (center) on the front of the UNLV 1980-81 media guide.

3300 2008-09 UNLV Women’s Basketball ASSSISTANTSISTANT COOACHESACHES MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

Caitlin Collier is in her fi rst year as an assistant coach after being hired on May 20, 2008.

Collier came to UNLV after serving the past 11 years as the fi rst and only head women’s basketball coach at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif. The two-time Cal Pac Conference Coach of the Year led Menlo to an average of 20 wins over the past four seasons, including the 2006-07 season when the Oaks fi nished at 25-3 (16-0 in conference play). Collier had a career record of 172-96 at the school after starting the program from scratch in 1997. She led the Oaks to three NAIA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 fi nish in 2006. The team also won three conference tournament championships, two regular-season championships, and in 2006- 07 it fi nished the year ranked No. 7 in the NAIA national top-25, the highest in program history. The Oaks were also ranked No. 2 nationally in team defense during the 2006-07 season.

Collier also had been Menlo’s Director of Athletics since July of 2003, the fi rst woman to hold the position in the school’s 75-year history, and saw the Oaks win the Cal Pac Conference All Sports Trophy in 2006-07. She was selected as president of the NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in October 2007.

Prior to Menlo, Collier spent one season at Dominican Univer- sity (Calif.) as assistant coach and assistant athletic director during the 1996-97 season. She played one season for UC Davis (1989- 90), and received her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the school in 1993. Collier also earned a master of arts degree in sports management from the University of San Francisco in 1997, and completed a fellowship at Oxford University in the spring of 2002.

A NEW ERA 3311 ASSSISTANTSISTANT COOACHESACHES MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

Kari Duperron is in her fi rst year as an assistant coach on the Nikki Blue is in her fi rst year on the UNLV coaching staff as an UNLV staff as she was hired on May 20, 2008. assistant coach after being hired on June 5, 2008. Duperron had previous ties to Olivier, having spent a total of Blue played under Olivier for four seasons at UCLA (2003-06) four seasons on the UCLA staff beginning in the 2003-04 season and was a two-time Associated Press and Kodak/WBCA honorable as the director of basketball operations when Olivier was the Bru- mention All-American. One of just fi ve players in conference his- ins’ head coach. She also spent a portion of the 2006-07 season as tory to be named All-Pac-10 all four years (all fi rst team selections), an interim assistant coach for Olivier. At UCLA, she oversaw the Blue fi nished her career fi fth on the school’s all-time scoring list administrative side of the program, which included work on recruit- with 1,797 points and was second in assists (602) and third in steals ing, marketing, and also directed the summer and winter basketball (325), which is also the second-highest in Pac-10 history. camps. Blue was a second-round draft choice (19th overall) of the Duperron spent last season as the sophomore boys’ basketball in the 2006 WNBA draft and was in the top coach for North Torrance High School in Torrance, Calif., and led 10 among rookies during the 2006 season in both assists and free the team to a second-place league fi nish, while also serving as as- throw percentage. She played in 30 of 34 games last year for the sistant coach for the varsity team that won its fi rst league champion- Mystics and during this past offseason played overseas in Turkey, ship since 1972. before returning to the Mystics in April for her third year on the Duperron began her collegiate career at Cal Poly as a freshman team. She graduated from UCLA in 2006 with a degree in history. walk-on and would fi nish as a three-year starting . She was a two-time team captain and named the 2003 Big West Confer- ence “Hustle Player of the Year.” Duperron earned her bachelor of science degree in marketing management from Cal Poly in June of 2003 and also received a master of arts degree in sport management from Long Beach State in February of 2006.

32 2008-0922008008 09 UNLV Women’s BasketbalBasketballl SUUPPORTPPORT STTAFFAFF MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

CHRIS BONNELL - Sports Marketing (First Season) Chris Bonnell begins his fi rst year as the assistant director of marketing and advertising after spending last year as a graduate intern for UNLV Sports Marketing. Prior to working for the athletic department, Bonnell played baseball at UNLV under head coach Buddy Gouldsmith for fi ve years where he helped the Rebels to three consecutive Mountain West Conference titles. He was a three-time Mountain West Player of the Week and was also named to the 2005 Tempe NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. Bonnell is a Las Vegas native who received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from UNLV in 2007.

LARRY CHIN - Coordinator of Athletic Equipment (30th Season) Larry Chin is in his 30th season as the coordinator of athletic equipment at UNLV. A longtime Las Vegan since 1964, Chin has been with the Rebels for the last 35 years and has worked as an equipment manager with almost every athletic program at the institution. Chin currently oversees and handles equipment for 14 of the 17 intercollegiate sports at UNLV. He works mainly with the women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball and women’s cross country and track and fi eld programs. Only one of two current or past staff members to participate in all four men’s basketball NCAA Final Four appearances, which included the 1990 National Championship title, Chin and former head coach Jerry Tarkanian are the only two to have witnessed the Runnin’ Rebels postseason success in 1977, 1987, 1990 and 1991. Chin is an inducted team member of eight UNLV Hall of Fame and two Southern Nevada Hall of Fame programs. He and his wife, Onn, reside in Las Vegas and have one son, Nathan. They are the proud grandparents of two grandchild, Zachary Paul Chin and Nicholas Jordan Chin. RACHEL DUNN - Video Coordinator (First Season) Rachel Dunn is in her fi rst year as video coordinator for the Lady Rebels. She is responsible for coordinating UNLV’s fi le exchange along with scouting, editing and breaking down game footage of opponents. Dunn, who is currently working on her master’s degree in sports management at UNLV, was a two-sport athlete at Casleton State College in Casleton, Vt., as she played for both the hockey and softball teams. While at Casleton, she worked an internship in the front offi ce of the Vermont Frost Heaves of the American Basketball Association. She received her bachelor’s degree in sport administration in 2008.

LISA LEVINE - Academic Advisor (Second Season) Lisa Levine is in her second year and is the advisor for football (offense), women’s basketball and women’s golf. She is the co-coordinator for the CHAMPS/Life Skills program, community service activities, and the Academic Awards Luncheon. Levine also coordinates career development programs, graduate studies preparation, and the SAAS web site. Prior to joining UNLV, Levine was an Assistant Academic Counselor for the Nebraska Cornhuskers (2005-2007), and worked in the admissions offi ce at The University of Texas at Austin (2002-2005). A native of Houston, Levine earned her master of education in sport management and her bachelor of science in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. Levine is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership at UNLV. Levine is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics, serving as co-chair of the Life Skills Committee and coordinator of the Region V Conference hosted by UNLV in October 2008. ELIZABETH LINKOUS - Director of Basketball Operations (Third Season) Elizabeth Linkous is in her third year as the director of basketball operations. Her responsibilities include team travel, practice scheduling, assisting in marketing and promotions, coordinating community outreach activities and summer camp promotion. Linkous came to UNLV after spending two seasons as the basketball operations coordinator and equipment manager for the WNBA’s (2005-06). Prior to working with the Fever, she worked as sports information intern for the Indiana High School Athletic Association (2004) and as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. (2002-03). She also served as the women’s basketball operations intern at the University of Notre Dame (2001-02). Linkous played four years for Division III Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications in May of 2002. In December of 2004, Linkous completed her master of science degree in sports administration and management from Indiana University, Bloomington.

JODI SABATASO - Strength & Conditioning Coach (Fifth Season) Jodi Sabataso is in her fi fth year at UNLV overseeing the Lady Rebels’ strength and conditioning program. She came to Las Vegas from Harvard, where she spent three years as assistant director of strength and conditioning. She was responsible for overseeing over 30 teams, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, women’s soccer and women’s ice hockey. Prior to Harvard, she spent time as assistant strength and conditioning coach at USC, SMU, Springfi eld College, Holy Cross, and Ohio State. A 1996 graduate from Springfi eld College with a bachelor’s degree in health fi tness, she also received her master’s degree in applied exercise science in 2000, also from Springfi eld. Sabataso currently resides in Las Vegas with her husband Greg. They have one son, Jaxon (1).

A NEW EERA 3333 SUUPPORTPPORT STTAFFAFF MEEETET THHEE TEEAMAM

MICHAEL VERA - Athletic Trainer (First Season) Michael Vera is in his fi rst year as the athletic trainer for the Lady Rebels Vera, who is working on his master’s degree at UNLV in sports management, began working on the UNLV athletic training staff as a graduate assistant in the fall of 2006. During his two years at the school, he has also worked with the Rebel women’s soccer team, the softball team, men’s and women’s tennis, and has assisted with football as well. A native of Alliance, Neb., Vera received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Nebraska in 2006. While attending Nebraska, Vera also completed a six-week internship with the Miami Dolphins in the summer of 2004.

MARK WASIK - Women’s Basketball SID (Sixth Season) Mark Wasik is in his sixth year as an assistant sports information director at UNLV. He is in charge of daily media relations and publicity efforts for the Lady Rebels as well as men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s swimming and diving at UNLV. Prior to UNLV, Wasik was assistant athletic media relations director at South Alabama, where he served as the contact for women’s basketball, volleyball, and men’s and women’s tennis. Wasik spent three years as assistant SID at UNC 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 sports information offi ce. Wasik was a volunteer graduate student assistant in the Tennessee women’s media relations offi ce while working toward his master’s degree in athletic administration, which he received in 1998. As an undergraduate student at Florida State, Wasik worked in the sports information offi ce for two and a half years and received a bachelor of arts degree in sport management in April of 1997. A native of Chapel Hill, N.C., Wasik is a member of both the College Sports Information Directors of America and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and a member of the CoSIDA Academic All-American committee. Wasik and his wife Rachelle, who were married in August of 2007, reside in Henderson. 2008-09 LADY REBEL STUDENT MANAGERS

Las Vegas, Boulder City, Oakland, Arnold, Nev. Nev. Calif. Calif. Junior Freshman Sophomore Freshman Marketing Communications Criminal Justice Nuclear Medicine & Radiology

STEVE SELBY ALYSSA GUTSCHICK COURTNEY LEWIS JEFFREY O’GORMAN

San Diego, West Covina Colorado Springs, Hingham, Mass. Calif. Calif. Colo. Junior Freshman Junior Sophomore Hotel Management Secondary Marketing Nursing Education

ALEX SHINDER TIFFANY TONG CHARLANDA WHITFIELD WHITNEY WILLIAMS

Jake Gutierrez Carol Hopkins Jerry Koloskie Rusty White Public Address Administrative Senior Associate AD Women’s Basketball Announcer Assistant WBK Administrator Game Operations 3344 22008-09008-09 UNLVUNLV Women’sWomen’s BasketballBasketball