UNLV looking for fan support on homestand

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002 | 10:18 a.m.

John Robinson has big plans for UNLV's women's basketball team heading into this weekend's games against Air Force and New Mexico at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"We're asking for support for the women's basketball games Thursday and Saturday," said Robinson, who took over athletic director duties on Jan. 1. "We want to start a new era of marketing for women's basketball at UNLV. ... We're hoping for a crowd of somewhere around 30,000 with lines out of the building."

The Lady Rebels (14-3, 2-2), coming off a tough Front Range trip that saw them get swept by Wyoming and No. 19 Colorado State, won't get anywhere near 30,000 into the 17,500-seat Thomas & Mack Center for Thursday night's game against lowly Air Force (4-12, 0-3). But thanks to a string of promotions and the return of students on campus for the start of the spring semester, there's a good chance Regina Miller's squad could draw its biggest crowd in more than a decade.

According to UNLV's sports information department, a crowd of more than 5,000 is expected for Thursday night's 7:35 game against the Falcons. That would be the largest turnout for a Lady Rebels basketball game since 2,500 turned out for the Pauline Jordan-led squad in 1989-90.

"I think it will be neat to see that it works," Miller said. "I feel the sports marketing staff has really stepped up to back the program under John Robinson's leadership. And I'd like to see it pay big dividends."

Among the promotions for Thursday night's game:

Free admission is also available to Saturday night's game against New Mexico (14-4, 3-1) for fans who present their ticket stub from Thursday night's game at the door.

Frohlich, who passed out free tickets at a school and a church in an effort to drum up support, said she has received a mixed reaction from local students.

"Some are really excited and act like they are going to come," the 6-foot-2 senior forward from Oldendorf, Germany, said. "Others are like, 'Oh?' and act like they're not really aware that we might have a team at UNLV."

Still, Frohlich said she and her teammates are actually getting recognized on occasion on campus these days.

"It is very, very positive," she said of the marketing push. "It's very comfortable right now to be a Lady Rebel just because people are so positive now to this program."

Frohlich, who would appear well on her way to a third consecutive conference MVP award, leads the MWC in four categories: scoring (21.9 ppg), rebounds (11.1), free throw shooting (.860) and defensive rebounds (8.35). She is third in blocked shots (1.00) and fourth in steals (2.47). ...

UNLV is promoting what it calls a "Lady Rebel Road Show" trip to the team's game at San Diego State on Feb. 9. The package, which is $200 for a single and $250 for two spots, includes bus transportation, one night's hotel room, a ticket to the game and a postgame reception after the game in the hotel. For further information, call 895-UNLV.