Nov. 18, 2005
Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Nevada women's basketball team dropped its season opener 65-61 to Portland State on Friday. Turnovers and a slow first half crippled the Pack.
Nevada turned the ball over 26 times in the game and Portland State converted the mistakes into 25 points. Nevada struggled shooting the ball making only 38.5 % of its shots in the first half. Portland State was led by sophomore center Brianna Thompson and freshman guard Kelsey Kahle. Thompson finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and a block. Kahle scored all 13 of her points in the second half, had six rebounds and an assist.
Brandi Fitzgerald and Traci Graham led the Pack with 27 combined points. Fitzgerald had 15 points and an assist and Graham had 12 points and five rebounds.
Turnovers and missed shots plagued the Pack in the first half. Nevada was 10-26 (33%) with no three-pointers made in the half and had 12 turnovers. Portland State struggled as well shooting only 30% and marked 10 turnovers. Traci Graham went down in the opening minutes after driving to the basket and didn't return until the 14 minute mark. Even with the turnovers the Pack went into the locker down only one point, 26-25.
Nevada started the second half with an 8-1 run led by Cherlanda Franklin and Nicole Hayman. Portland State's Kelsey Kahle came out strong in the second half scoring 13 points in the half. Nevada struggled to maintain a lead and Portland State took the game by four points.
The Pack's next action will be Sunday against the University of Oregon at 1:00 p.m.
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