UNLV Lady Rebels hope to overcome another setback as WNIT opens

The adversity, the first real test, hit early.

UNLV point guard Nikki Wheatley went down for the basketball season Dec. 19 against Oregon State with a torn meniscus.

The Lady Rebels had been rolling up to that point, going 8-1 with victories over Southern California and Mississippi. Including that Oregon State game, they then lost four of five, but got back on track and made a push all the way to the postseason.

“This team has been tough throughout the year,” coach Kathy Olivier said. “We fought through adversity many times. They’re a very competitive group, and they know if something goes wrong, we can’t let that affect us. They all hunker down and do all they can to make it not be a problem.…