Reno, Nev. Senior Traci Graham led three Nevada players in double figures as the Wolf Pack women’s basketball team downed Hawai`i 69-59 on Thursday night at Lawlor Events Center.
Sophomore Brandi Fitzgerald scored 13 points while Dellena Criner added 12 for Nevada, which improved to 8-8 overall and 2-1 in Western Athletic Conference play.
Hawaii fell to 6-9 and 0-3 in the WAC.
Nevada scored the first 11 points of the game and led by as many as 13 points in the first half before the Rainbow Wahine battled back. Hawaii took their only lead of the game, 20-19, on a 3-pointer by Janevia Taylor with 7:15 left in the first half. Nevada answered that with a 14-2 run and cruised into halftime leading 37-31.
The Wolf Pack was outrebounded by the taller Wahine 44-28 but went to the free throw line 25 times, hitting 20 of those attempts. Hawaii was just 6-of-10 from the stripe.
Hawaii was led by Tanya Smith’s double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds, both game-highs.
Freshman Marianne Lombardi started her third consecutive game and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for Nevada.
The Wolf Pack will return to action on Sunday when it plays host to San Jose State at Lawlor Events Center. Tip-off is 2 p.m.
GAME NOTES
-- Senior guard Traci Graham buried four 3-pointers on the night and moved past Jessica Larsen (1997-2001) and into a tie with Virginia Green (1988-92) for fifth place all-time with 102 career 3-pointers.
-- Graham also recorded two assists and moved into a tie with Noelle Fable (1994-98) for fifth place all-time with 232 career assists.
-- Senior forward Jessica Preslar had six rebounds and moved past Amber Young (2001-05) into eighth place all-time with 520 career rebounds.
-- Nevada is now 3-1 with the starting lineup of Graham, Dellena Criner, Brandi Fitzgerald, Andrea Sitton and Marianne Lombardi.
-- Hawaii still holds a 21-7 overall advantage in the all-time series between the teams but Nevada has won three of the last four meetings.
-- Nevada is now 5-2 at home this season.
