RENO, Nev. – Nevada's Kylie Jimenez was named the Mountain West Preseason Newcomer of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday.
 
Jimenez, a Colorado native and grad transfer from Portland State, is the sister of Wolf Pack guard Alyssa Jimenez. Kylie Jimenez played a huge role for the Vikings the past four seasons as she tied the school record with 122 starts, which is every game she played in. Throughout her career, the 5-foot-6 guard earned many accolades including Big Sky Freshman of the Year, All-Big Sky Third Team twice, an All-Big Sky honorable mention, a Big Sky Player of the Week  honor, and was named to the 2019 All-Big Sky Tournament team. She helped her team to a 25-win season during her sophomore campaign, a Big Sky Tournament Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
 
During her junior season, she eclipsed 1,000 career points, becoming the 19^th player to do so in Portland State history. She finished her four seasons with the Vikings with 1,279 points and posted 62 double-figure scoring performances, including eight 20-point efforts. She is also just the third member of the 1,000-point, 500-assist and 250-steal club at Portland State. Jimenez totaled 538 assists with the Vikings, including a career-high 156 during her sophomore season. She set the school record for assists in a game with 11 against Eastern Washington on March 9, 2020.
 
Head coach Amanda Levens enters her fifth year with the Pack, returning 14 players and welcoming five newcomers. Nevada returns leading scorer and All-Mountain West selection Da'Ja Hamilton. Hamilton posted the third-most points in a single game in the Mountain West during the 2020-21 season after scoring 32 against UNLV on Feb. 1. The Pack was selected to finish eighth in the conference preseason voting.
 
Also set to return in 2021-22 are Amaya West, Nia Alexander, Megan Ormiston and Kenna Holt. The Pack returns 86 percent of its scoring while adding newcomers Audrey Roden, Kaylee Borden, Natalie Lathrop and Hannah Hartley, in addition to Jimenez. Nevada also adds freshman guard Audrey Roden, who was named a McDonald's All-American nominee and Maxpreps' No. 1 high school recruit in Oregon.
 
The Pack hosts an exhibition game against Fresno Pacific on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. PT. Nevada opens up the regular season on Nov. 10 with a home game against Saint Mary's.
 
Season ticket holders from 2019-20 can renew by contacting the ticket office at 775-348-PACK (7225) or by emailing wolfpackticketinfo@unr.edu. For pricing and ticket options, click here (PDF). To order new season tickets, please click here.
 
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Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes)
1.        Fresno State(13)                     269             
2.        New Mexico (7)                       251
3.        UNLV (3)                                 232
4.        Colorado State (1)                  207
5.        Wyoming                                 190
6.        Boise State                             166
7.        San Diego State (2)                135                   
8.        Nevada                                   123
9.        San Jose State (1)                  105            
10.      Air Force                                  62
11.      Utah State                                42
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Haley Cavinder, Jr., Guard, Fresno State
 
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Asia Avinger, Jr., Guard, San Diego State
 
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Kylie Jimenez, Sr., Guard, Nevada
 
Preseason All-Conference Team
McKenna Hofschild, Jr., Guard, Colorado State
Haley Cavinder, Jr., Guard, Fresno State
Hanna Cavinder, Jr., Guard, Fresno State
Antonia Anderson, Sr., Guard/Forward, New Mexico
Desi-Rae Young, So., Center, UNLV