Frohlich nets top honor — again

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, March 6, 2002 | 10:28 a.m.

Regina Miller knew she had recruited a pretty good basketball player back in 1998 when she convinced a young member from the German National team named Linda Frohlich to play her college basketball at UNLV.

"When I saw Linda, I thought she had potential," Miller said. "She has a favorite move where she dribbles to the left and pulls up, that type of thing. But I wanted to see if she could develop some other things."

Four years and three Mountain West Conference MVPs later, it would be fair to say the 6-2 forward from Oldendorf, Germany has developed into a pretty good college player.

Consider:

But Frohlich, who barring a WNIT home game next week willl be making her final appearance at the Thomas & Mack Center in this week's Mountain West Conference Tournament beginning with tonight's 8:30 game against Utah, says there is still one thing missing on her resume. Las Vegas ONE will televise the game beginning at 10 p.m.

(Selected by league coaches)

First Team -- Linda Frohlich, UNLV, Sr., 6-2, F; Angie Gorton, Colorado State, Sr., 6-0, F; Erin Thorn, BYU, Jr., 5-10, G; Constance Jinks, UNLV, Jr., 5-6, G; Lauren Beckman, Utah, Sr., 6-2, F/C.

Second Team -- Jennifer Leitner, BYU, Jr., 6-1, F; Jordan Adams, New Mexico, Jr., 6-3, C; Lindsay Herbert, Utah, Sr., 5-11, G/F; Carrie Bacon, Wyoming, Jr., 6-0, F; Ashley Augspurger, Colorado State, Jr., 6-1, F

Third Team -- Stacy Jensen, BYU, Sr., 5-6, G; Melanie Pearson, BYU, Sr., 6-1, G/F; Mandi Moore, New Mexico, Fr., 5-8, G; Claire Swinbank, San Diego State, Sr., 5-8, G; Atim Otii, San Diego State, Sr., 6-0, F

Honorable mention -- Latoya Howell, Air Force, Fr., 5-4, G; Amoy Jackson, Air Force, So., 5-10, G; Lindsey Arndt, New Mexico, Fr., 6-1, F; Chelsea Greer, New Mexico, Jr., 5-10, F/G; Petra Glaser, UNLV, So., 6-6, C; Erin Gibbons, Utah, Sr., 5-9, G; Darci Arsene, Wyoming, Jr., 6-1, F; Carly Stucky, Wyoming, So., 5-10, G

Player of the Year: Linda Frohlich, UNLV

Defensive Player of the Year: Angie Gorton, Colorado State

Newcomer of the Year: Mandi Moore, New Mexico

Coach of the Year: Tom Collen, Colorado State

"I'm honored," she said after being informed about winning his third straight Mountain West MVP award on Tuesday. "But the main thing I want is to win as a team. I'm grateful to get all of these awards, but I still haven't accomplished the goal I put down in the media guide my first year here. That's to go to the NCAA Tournament."

The Lady Rebels (21-7, 9-5) are considered a bubble team to garner their first NCAA bid since 1994. A victory over improving Utah (15-11, 8-6) tonight could help sew that berth up.

If so, it would be the perfect ending to a marvelous four-year career for Frohlich, the 1999 national Freshman of the Year who has played a major role in bringing UNLV women's sports to the forefront.

"She certainly will leave her legacy behind," Miller said. "I think the contributions she has made to the university and the community have been huge. She has been one of a kind."

Forget the fact UNLV was 4-23 before Frohlich and Miller arrived and that the Lady Rebels haven't won fewer than 17 games in any of the four seasons since. It's Frohlich's off-the-court contributions, from going to local schools and churches to promote the Lady Rebels, to smiling her way through a stream of weekly interview requests, to her customary postgame talks with the crowd, that have helped propel UNLV women's basketball into the mainstream.

"Linda has meant so much to Lady Rebel basketball," junior guard Constance Jinks said. "She has helped bring us to where we're getting national attention. She's helped people recognize UNLV again. She's just a leader. She's a nice person and outgoing and willing to do whatever it takes to win. And we take our lead from that."

"I think she's one of those people who makes it fun for everyone to be involved with," UNLV athletic director/head football coach John Robinson said. "She's a wonderful girl and a great student, too. She's really helped to put UNLV in a positive position. We wanted to promote women's sports here more and she is the kind of person who fits the profile for doing that."

Frohlich, who is averaging a double-double this year -- 21.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game -- said it is hard to believe her four years at UNLV are coming to an end. She'll graduate in May with a degree in psychology.

"It is amazing," she said. "It went by so quick. But at the same time, you look back and it really has been a long time. It's been four preseasons. It's been three postseasons. It's been a lot of work, a lot of tears, a lot of joy.

"I have no regrets."