Lady Rebels await word on Frohlich

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002 | 11:19 a.m.

WHAT: Lady Rebels vs. Colorado State

WHEN: Today, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center

TV: None

RADIO: KENO 1460-AM

The UNLV Lady Rebels host 17th-ranked Colorado State tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center in their biggest home game of the season. But the Lady Rebels are hoping to garner an even bigger victory off the court.

Senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie said Wednesday night the school hopes to learn today whether the NCAA will allow senior forward Linda Frohlich to resume her career. The school was alerted last Thursday that Frohlich may have violated NCAA amatuer standards while competing in her native Germany and suspended her the following day.

"I'm hoping that we'll find out (today)," Koloskie said. "They (the NCAA) are reviewing all the documents that have been submitted. I believe we're at a point now where we can sit down and hash it out."

Attorney Michael Glazier of the Kansas City, Mo., law firm Bond, Schoenek and King, a former NCAA field representative who specializes in NCAA eligibility matters, has aided UNLV in its case. Koloskie believes the NCAA will make its ruling swiftly.

"They know we're under a deadline with the game (tonight)," Koloskie said. "We're hoping this matter can get resolved by then."

Frohlich's teammate, 6-foot-6 sophomore center Petra Glaser, will sit out the second game of an eight-game suspension tonight after the NCAA determined she had played with professional players in Germany.

Tonight's game could have major ramifications for the Lady Rebels (18-4, 6-3), who are still considered a bubble team to make the NCAA Tournament. A victory over the Rams (19-4, 8-1) would give Regina Miller's squad a win over a Top 25 team, which no doubt would help UNLV's case with the NCAA selection committee.

Miller has spent the week preparing for the Rams as though Frohlich will not play tonight.

"I'm hoping (the NCAA ruling) will be positive," she said. "They seem to be optimistic that we'll know something by (today). But we're trying to focus on our games and what we need to do to keep our success going. We have a strong game plan on what it will take to beat Colorado State. We just have to execute it whether Linda plays or she doesn't play."

A big key will be the Lady Rebels' perimeter defense. When Colorado State defeated UNLV, 62-57, in their first matchup on Jan. 19 in Fort Collins, the Rams connected on 12 of their 21 3-point attempts. Meanwhile, the Lady Rebels were a dreadful 0-for-12 on treys.

"We have to defend the 3-point shot," Miller said. "We can't allow them to shoot 12 and we don't get any like last time."