Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Lady Rebels’ Paris Strawther dedicates every game to mom’s memory

Judy Strawther

Sam Wasson / UNLV

UNLV Rebels forward/center Paris Strawther (3) battles for position against Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Chloe Bibby (55) during the Duel In The Desert at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.

Paris Strawther

UNLV Rebels forward/center Paris Strawther (3) drives against Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Chloe Bibby (55) during the Duel In The Desert at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Photo by Sam Wasson for UNLV Athletics Launch slideshow »

Around Paris Strawther’s neck, tucked into her shirt, is a delicate cross dangling from a thin, gold chain.

It belonged to her mother, Lourdes, more often referred to by her nickname, Cookie, who died of breast cancer in 2011.

The only time the necklace comes off is when Strawther is on the court with the UNLV Lady Rebels basketball team, and even then, the 6-foot-2 senior post player dedicates every game to her mother’s memory.

“Me and my mom were super close; my family is super tight-knit,” Strawther said. “I’m playing basketball for her.”

It shows. When she’s on the court, Strawther plays for her mother like churchgoers pray at a Sunday service — with a quiet mix of grace, strength and selflessness.

She will start the 2018-2019 season — her fourth — as forward for the Lady Rebels.

Strawther, 21, will be a three-year starter, averaging 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season to help UNLV win the Mountain West regular season title.

Before college, the Las Vegas native played three years at Liberty High School. Her mother died before her freshman year of high school, and she took that year off of basketball.

Her close relationship with her family has helped her get through the tough times.

After her mother died, Strawther poured herself into helping her siblings, Julian, who also plays basketball at Liberty, and Paige, and her father, Lee, and they poured themselves into helping her.

“He’s been there for us in so many ways — basketball, when our mom passed away. He was there, just taking care of us, making sure our heads were on straight, making sure we have goals and ambitions,” Strawther said of her father.

Strawther said some of her favorite times with her mother are captured on home videos. “My mom recorded everything,” Strawther said. “We had a whole bunch of home videos.”

She said there’s video of her and her siblings dancing and singing to “everything — B2K, Destiny’s Child, Cheetah Girls,” or dancing along to the BET Awards performances.

Jordyn Bell, a forward for the Lady Rebels, has played with Strawther all four years.

“She’s super caring. She speaks her mind, and she puts other people before herself,” Bell, 21, said. “I’m super grateful that I’ve got to have this experience with her, and I wouldn’t change it for the world or ask for it to be anybody else. It’s been a blessing to get to know her and her family.”

Strawther brings that same selflessness to the court, UNLV coach Kathy Olivier said.

“It’s always about others, others, others,” Olivier said, noting that it would be good for the team if she were a bit more selfish on the court.

“Do I say that to every player? No. But with Paris, we have to say that. Her teammates would tell you that, too,” she said.

Strawther is majoring in public health for her undergraduate degree and plans to earn her master’s at UNLV in business.

Every year, the Lady Rebels play a game dedicated to bringing awareness to breast cancer. This year’s game will be Feb. 16 against San Jose State University.

“We do a breast cancer awareness game, a pink game, and she’s always a mess before the game, works really hard and ends up playing really well, and it’s for her mom,” Olivier said.

The Lady Rebels first game of the season is at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 against Wright State University at the Cox Pavilion.