Starting center Glaser quits Lady Rebels

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, July 16, 2002 | 9:36 a.m.

UNLV women's basketball coach Regina Miller knew she would have to replace one of her German National team members next season after three-time conference Player of the Year Linda Frohlich moved on to the WNBA's New York Liberty in the spring.

Now Miller must replace the other.

Petra Glaser, a 6-foot-6 junior center from Amtsberg, Germany, has withdrawn from UNLV citing personal reasons. She earned honorable mention all-Mountain West Conference honors last season after averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Glaser, who missed 17 games because of injury and an NCAA-imposed suspension in her two-year career, was considered a prized recruit when Miller signed her in 2000. But Glaser struggled to make the transition from the European finesse style of play to the more physical, up-tempo American style.

In fact, UNLV was without Glaser and Frohlich last season when it scored arguably the biggest win of Miller's four-year regime. When the Lady Rebels stunned 15th-ranked Colorado State 71-59 at the Thomas & Mack Center, Glaser and Frohlich sat out because of NCAA illegal benefits suspensions for having played with professional players in Germany. Miller switched to a quicker three-guard offense, which caused the Rams trouble on both ends of the court.

With Frohlich gone, and Michigan transfer InFini Robinson joining explosive senior Constance Jinks and defensive whiz Julia Gray in an athletic backcourt, the Lady Rebels are expected to play a more wide-open style next season.

But Miller said she was saddened to see Glaser leave.

"I think Petra is a great kid and I've really enjoyed coaching her," said Miller, who was recruiting in Atlanta on Monday when the university announced Glaser's withdrawal. "I've been at UNLV for four years and she's the first player I've had who has decided to transfer. I think that's pretty good.

"Still, anytime you lose one of your players, it's kind of like being a parent ... it's like you lost part of your family. But we've got to pick up and move on."

Fortunately for Miller, the Lady Rebels still have the makings of a solid front line.

Sophomore Sherry McCracklin, who averaged 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds as a freshman, returns along with her sister Dishawn. And 6-4 junior Padra Strong, whom Miller says has "the longest arms of any player in the Mountain West and a great hook shot," is spending the summer at the Pete Newell Girls Camp in Monterey, Calif.

Another player expected to make a big contribution is 6-2 forward Evelien Callens from Belgium. Callens has been called an even better prospect than Frohlich.