Monday, Jan. 3, 2005 | 9:59 a.m.
On the court, all looked good Sunday afternoon for the UNLV women's basketball team as it rolled through Canisius at the Thomas & Mack Center.
But off the court -- and with the athletic trainer -- is where the Lady Rebels make their news this season and one of their most important players may stay there for the rest of the year.
Preseason All-Mountain West Conference forward Sherry McCracklin sat on the UNLV bench during the Lady Rebels' 92-66 win against the Golden Griffins, again wearing the protective boot on her right foot that she had shed a couple of weeks ago. Originally scheduled to return from a partially torn Achilles' tendon in late November, McCracklin's slow recovery and subsequent aches and pains are likely to keep her out until at least February.
At that point, UNLV coach Regina Miller will have to decide if it is worth getting just a few weeks out of McCracklin, who recently has been slowed by bruising in her ankle.
"We certainly wouldn't count on her to be the type of player she has been the last couple of years for us this year," Miller said. "She's behind."
If Miller opts against bringing her back, McCracklin could use her redshirt and return for the 2005-06 season as a fifth-year senior. That decision will likely be made this week.
McCracklin's injury, while a huge blow, is not slowing the Lady Rebels (7-5) as they plow through a three-week diet of cupcakes before the start of the Mountain West Conference season. The victory against Canisius (4-6) was the third in a row for UNLV, which will play High Point and Northern Colorado in the next two weeks.
After facing national powers North Carolina, Minnesota and Iowa State early in the year, this stretch against lesser opponents is giving the Lady Rebels a chance to develop some on-court rapport. Senior forward RanDee Henry, who led all scorers with 20 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds Sunday, is happy that at least the starting lineup is beginning to come together.
"Overall, we're just coming into our own as a team," Henry said.
Six Lady Rebels scored in double figures against Canisius as UNLV raced to a 14-point halftime edge and led by as many as 31 points in the second half. In addition to Henry, junior guard Sheena Moore (12 points, 10 assists) and freshman forward Sequoia Holmes (14 points, 11 rebounds) also recorded double-double outings. Senior guard Shana Coleman also enjoyed a solid game with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Miller stuck with her starting lineup until very late in the game, even experimenting with a press in the final minutes. That is normally taboo with a big lead, but Miller's injury-hit squad rarely gets such an opportunity in game situations.
"When you have the lead like that, you can work on a few things," Miller said.
Even beyond McCracklin, UNLV is not at full strength. Junior guard Nejlah Clark is sidelined with a back injury, as is senior center Amy Loftus. The team is also without sophomore guard Kameca Simmons (calf strain) and sophomore center Tiffani Burries (stress fracture in foot).
With a volatile bench situation, the Lady Rebels understand the importance of the starters using this pre-conference stretch to improve. That is not normally the case against lesser opponents in games with less meaning.
"It's not really difficult (to get motivated) because we know we're trying to prepare for those games," Henry said.
Junior guard Karly Chesko came off the bench to lead Canisius with 19 points and junior guard Becky Zak added 14 for the Golden Griffs, a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference team from Buffalo, N.Y.
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