San Diego, Calif. Dellena Criner scored a career-high 24 points and Nevada stayed perfect on the year with a 68-62 victory over San Diego State on Tuesday night at Cox Arena.
Nevada (2-0) had four players in double figures as Jessica Preslar scored 14 points and Cherlanda Franklin and Traci Graham each added 11.
The last time Nevada started 2-0 was two years ago when the Pack beat Cal State Fullerton and Colorado to begin coach Kim Gervasoni’s second season.
Nevada was solid at the free throw line, hitting 20-of-23 with Criner a perfect 10-of-10.
The game was tied at 30 at the half but Nevada opened the second half with a surge and built a double-digit lead that it held for most of the rest of the game. Nevada’s defense flustered the Aztecs as the Pack recorded 17 steals, forcing 26 San Diego State turnovers overall.
Franklin pulled down nine rebounds, finishing just one rebound short of what would have been her second straight double-double. Preslar added eight rebounds for Nevada.
Nevada trailed for much of the first half until its defense spurred a rally with about 5 minutes to play. A steal by Cherlanda Franklin led to a Brandi Fitzgerald fastbreak layup to tie the score at 22 with 5:02 to play. Traci Graham then got a pair of fastbreak layups to put Nevada up 26-22.
The Aztecs later tied it up at 30 going into halftime.
Nevada will return home for its next game on Sunday when the Wolf Pack plays host to Idaho State at Lawlor Events Center.
