NEVADA WOLF PACK (7-3)
vs. UNLV (4-7)
~ GAME 11 ~
Friday., Dec. 28, 2007 * 7 p.m. (PT) * Lawlor Events Center * Reno, Nev.
TV/RADIO: None/AM 1450 (ESPN Deportes); Ben Deach and Dan Gustin; Pregame 6:45 p.m. PT
INTERNET: Live stats and live streaming video (nevadawolfpack.com)
SERIES HISTORY: UNLV leads the all-time series, 20-5
LAST MEETING: UNLV beat Nevada 77-63 on December 30, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nev.
ABOUT THIS GAME
Nevada will continue its three-game homestand Friday night, hosting intra-state rival UNLV at 7 p.m. The Pack, winners of two straight, is 4-1 overall at home this season and has not lost a game at home since November 11. Nevada will be looking for its first win over UNLV under head coach Kim Gervasoni and the first win over the Rebels since the 1999-2000 season. Overall, Nevada is 4-9 all-time against UNLV at home.
ABOUT THE NEVADA WOLF PACK
Nevada beat CS Fullerton, 82-57, on Dec. 16 to win its seventh game of the season. The Pack had five players (Dellena Criner, Shavon Moore, Mikail Price, Johnna Ward and Cherlanda Franklin) score in double figures in the win. The Pack recorded a 1-1 record during its trip to Southern California, Dec. 7 and 9, falling 77-74 at UC Irvine on Dec. 7 before downing UC Riverside 62-52 behind Moore’s first career-double-double, scoring 15 points and adding 10 boards. Criner (14 points) and Price (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Pack. Against UC Irvine, Criner (20 points), Price (19 points) and Brandi Fitzgerald (11 points) each scored in double-figures. On Dec. 2, Nevada posted a 74-66 victory over Idaho State in the championship game of the Nugget Classic. On Dec. 1, Nevada defeated Southern 77-52 behind three Nevada players who scored in double figures, Criner (13 points), Price (12 points) and Fitzgerald (10 points). Nevada also recorded a program-record 29 steals versus Southern. As a team this season, Nevada is averaging just under 70 points per game (68.5) while holding its opponents to under 65 points per contest (63.8). Criner (16.4 ppg) and Price (11.7 ppg) are the Pack’s leading scorers while Fitzgerald leads the team in rebounding, averaging 4.4 rpg. The Pack is coached by Kim Gervasoni who is in her fifth season with Nevada and has a 48-83 overall record.
ABOUT THE UNLV REBELS
The Rebels are 4-7 this season and are coming off a 1-1 record at the Lady Rebel Christmas Classic on Dec. 20 and 21. UNLV beat Austin Peay 56-38 before falling to Liberty 70-68 in the championship game. Sequoia Holmes leads the team in scoring at 21.5 points per game and also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.7 boards per game. Shamela Hampton is second on the team in both scoring (11.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). The Rebels have lost three games by fewer than three points. As a team, UNLV is averaging 62.7 points per game while their opponents are averaging 63.5 points per game. The Rebels return six letterwinners and four starters from last season’s 14-15 team.
FOLLOW THE PACK
On the Air (AM 1450): All of Nevada’s home games will be broadcast on AM 1450 (ESPN Deportes). In addition, nine road games and the WAC Tournament will be broadcast. On-air duties will be handled by Dan Gustin and Ben Deach. A complete broadcast schedule can be found on page five of this release.
Live Stats: All of Nevada’s home games this season and selected road games will have live stats and will be available online at the following link. The link will become active just before tip-off. http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml
Live Streaming Video: All of Nevada’s home games this season and select road games will have live streaming video and can be found online at the link below.
http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&DB_OEM_ID=10000
WEEKEND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PROMOTIONS
- Youth Basketball Night (Friday and Sunday)
Youth and high school basketball teams will receive free admission to both of the Pack’s games this weekend vs. UNLV and San Francisco. Teams must contact Darron Pinkney at 682-6963 to turn in a team roster.
- “A Night for the Ages” (Sunday)
Bring a grandparent or grandchild to the game and get in free. A post-game social will be held after the Nevada/San Francisco game for fans to meet with Nevada's players and coaches. For more information contact Amber Martin at the City of Reno at 334-2262.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Against CS Fullerton, Nevada had five players (Dellena Criner, Mikail Price, Shavon Moore, Johnna Ward and Cherlanda Franklin) score in double figures marking the first time since February 13, 2003 that the Pack had five players score in double figures.
- This season the Pack has had five games in which Nevada has had at least three players score in double figures (Stephen F. Austin, Southern, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and CS Fullerton). Nevada is 4-1 in games in which at least three players scored in double figures.
- Brandi Fitzgerald is 10-10 from the line this season and is one of three players in the conference to be perfect from the line this season. She has recorded 108 career free throws and is shooting .684% from the line for her career.
- Nevada’s 82 points over CS Fullerton on Dec. 16 marked the most points the team has scored under head coach Kim Gervasoni and the most points by a Nevada team since the Pack scored 84 over Eastern Michigan on December 1, 2002.
- With the win over CS Fullerton, Nevada improved to 7-3 this season and tied the program record for best start through 10 games. The 2002-03, 1999-00, 1985-86 and 1979-80 teams also started the season 7-3.
- With a win over UNLV, Nevada could match its best start in program history through 11 games with an 8-3 record. The 1985-86 and 1999-00 teams also started 8-3.
- Nevada has scored at least 60 points in nine of its 10 games this season including scoring a season-high 82 points in a win versus CS Fullerton on Dec. 16.
- The Pack has had four different players as Nevada’s top scorer. Dellena Criner has been Nevada’s leading scorer in six games, while Cherlanda Franklin has led the Pack in scoring twice. Mikail Price and Shavon Moore have each been Nevada’s leading scorer in one game this season.
- Dellena Criner has scored in double-figures in eight consecutive games this season and is averaging a team-leading 16.4 points per game. For her career, the junior guard has recorded 40 double-digit scoring games including nine 20-point games and one 30-point game.
- Nevada has held eight of its 10 opponents to under 70 points this season, including holding five opponents (Santa Clara, 51; Stephen F. Austin, 55; Southern, 52; UC Riverside, 52; and CS Fullerton 57) to under 60 points per game.
- Dellena Criner is one of just two players in the WAC to have recorded at least 30 points in a game this season and has scored the most points in a game (32) of any player in the conference this season. Her 32 points are the most by a Pack player since Kate Smith (2000-03) scored 36 points in a win over Air Force on January 8, 2000.
- Dellena Criner, who recorded five assists against CS Fullerton, reached the 150 career assist mark. She has 151 career assists with Nevada and is the only current player who has at least 150 career assists.
- Shavon Moore has been the Pack’s leading rebounder or been tied for the team lead in rebounds four times this season (vs. Santa Clara, five; Eastern Washington, seven; Southern, five; and UC Riverside, 10).
- Johnna Ward leads the team in 3-point field goals made with 14 (14-40, .350%). Dellena Criner is second (12-31, .387%) while Mikail Price is third (11-28, .393%).
- The Pack has had two players record a double-double this season, Marianne Lombardi and Shavon Moore. Lombardi recorded her first career double-double (16 points and 13 rebounds) against Stephen F. Austin on November 23 while Shavon Moore recorded her first career double-double (15 points and 10 rebounds) at UC Riverside on Dec. 9.
- Forward Jessica Harrison recorded her first career points for Nevada, scoring two points in Nevada’s 82-57 win over CS Fullerton on Dec. 16.
NEVADA’S 5TH IN THE NATION IN STEALS
In the latest NCAA stats released Dec. 16, the Pack is fifth in the nation in steals. In 10 games Nevada has recorded 141 steals and is averaging 14.1 steals per contest. Morgan State (Baltimore, Md.) leads the nation, averaging 15.7 steals in six games (94 total). San Diego State is second (15.5 spg, 124 total, eight games), followed by North Carolina (15.3 spg, 168 total, 11 games) and Jackson State (14.1 spg, 113 total, 8 games). Mikail Price is tied for first in the conference and leads the team in steals with 27 (2.70 per contest). Dellena Criner is second on the team (fifth in the WAC) averaging 2.80 spg while Brandi Fitzgerald is third on the team and tied for 11th in the WAC, averaging 1.80 spg. Nevada’s 141 steals leads the conference and is 33 steals above La Tech who is second in the conference in steals (108).
GERVASONI TWO WINS AWAY FROM 50 CAREER VICTORIES
Fifth-year head coach Kim Gervasoni, who picked up her 48th career victory in Nevada’s 82-57 victory over CS Fullerton on Dec. 16, is two wins away from winning her 50th career game with Nevada. Gervasoni is the second winningest coach in Nevada history and would become just the second coach in history to record at least 50 career wins with the Pack. Ada Gee (1993-2003) is Nevada’s winningest coach, owning a 117-161 record.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING
Through the first 10 games of the season, seven Nevada players have recorded a total of 21 double-digit scoring games. Mikail Price has scored in double figures six times this season (22 vs. Santa Clara, 12 vs. both SFA and Southern, 19 at UC Irvine, 11 at UC Riverside and 10 vs. Fullerton), while Shavon Moore has scored in double digits four times (10 vs. Santa Clara, 14 at Eastern Washington, 15 at UC Riverside and 11 vs. CS Fullerton). Cherlanda Franklin (12 vs. SDSU and 14 vs. CS Fullerton) and Johnna Ward (19 vs. Idaho St. and 10 vs. CS Fullerton) have each scored in double figures twice this season while Brandi Fitzgerald has recorded three double-digit scoring games (10 at both Gonzaga and versus Southern and 11 at UC Irvine). Marianne Lombardi has recorded one double-digit scoring game (16 vs. SFA) and is one of two Nevada players, along with Shavon Moore, to record a double-double this season. Dellena Criner has recorded eight double-digit scoring games this season, including three 20-point games and one 30-point game.
NEVADA’S RECORD BY STARTING LINEUP
Nevada has used four different starting lineups this season. Dellena Criner, Brandi Fitzgerald and Cherlanda Franklin have started all 10 games for Nevada.
TOUGH D
Through its first 10 games of the season, Nevada has held eight of its 10 opponents to under 70 points per game. The Pack has held opponents to under 60 points five times this season versus Santa Clara (51), versus Stephen F. Austin (55), versus Southern (52), at UC Riverside (52) and versus CS Fullerton (57). Through its first 10 games, Nevada is second in the WAC in scoring defense, holding opponents to 63.8 points per game.
SITTON NAMED A CANDIDATE FOR THE LOWE'S SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Senior forward Andrea Sitton has been selected as one of the 30 initial candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for the 2007-08 basketball season. The award presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student- Athlete of the Year in eight sports focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition. Lowe’s will award the winner with a trophy during the NCAA Final Four. This season, Sitton has played in all 10 of Nevada’s games and is averaging 8.6 minutes per game. Sitton is a three-time Academic All-WAC honoree and has a 3.68 GPA in elementary education. Sitton, who was named to the Dean’s List in the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007, is scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2008. Sitton has participated in a number of community service activities including: the X-Treme Ability Challenge (2004); Race for the Cure (2004-07); the Heart Walk (2005-06); Renown Seniors’ Day (2007) and the Girls and Women in Sports Day (2004-06). She has also been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) since 2004 and is a member of several clubs including Intervarsity, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Champions for Christ.
NEVADA TO HAVE THREE HOME GAMES TELEVISED
After playing in its first nationally-televised game last season, the Pack will play in three televised contests this season. KAME broadcasted the final game of the Nugget Classic on Dec. 2 and will also televise the Nevada/New Mexico State game on January 26. Both games will be shown on a tape-delay basis with the New Mexico State game being aired at 7 p.m. PT. CSTV will broadcast the Nevada/Hawai`i game from Reno on January 12.
NEVADA RADIO BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Starting with Nevada’s game against Southern on Dec. 1, the University of Nevada women’s basketball team will have 13 home games and a total of 22 regular-season games broadcast on ESPN Deportes, AM 1450. On-air duties will be handled by Dan Gustin, Don Marchand and Ben Deach.
CRINER NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dellena Criner earned her first career WAC Player of the Week honor on Dec. 3. Criner was named the Nugget Classic MVP after leading the Wolf Pack to a 2-0 record and a Nugget Classic Championship on December 2 in Reno. Criner was Nevada’s leading scorer at the tournament, recording 13 points in the Pack’s 77-52 win over Southern and a career-high 32 points (13-of-22) in the championship victory over Idaho State, 74-66. The junior guard also registered a career-high eight steals against Southern. Criner, averaged 22.5 points while shooting 57.1 percent from the field.
NEVADA IN THE WAC STATS (as of 12/22/07)
Dellena Criner is third in the conference in points per game (16.4 ppg), while Mikail Price is 11th (11.7 ppg)...Price is first overall in steals per game 2.70 (27 overall)...Criner is fifth in steals (23, 2.30 spg) and Brandi Fitzgerald is 11th (18, 1.80 spg)...Price is sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.393%) while Criner is seventh (.387%) and Johnna Ward is 10th (.350%)...Criner is sixth in assists with 28 (2.80 apg)...Criner is seventh in free throw percentage (.734%) while Price is eighth (.720%)...Criner is fourth in minutes played with 313 (31.30 mpg) and Price is 26th with 247 (24.70 mpg)...Fitzgerald is tied for 11th in blocked shots (9) and is 14th in defensive rebounds with 32 (3.20 rpg)...Shavon Moore is ninth in offensive rebounds with 25 (2.50 rpg)...Ward is ninth in three-point field goals made with 14 and Criner is tied for 14th with 12...as a team Nevada is first in steals (141, 14.1 spg) and second in the conference in scoring defense (63.8 ppg)...Nevada is third in scoring offense (68.5 ppg), free throw percentage (.695%), field goal percentage (.396%) and three-point field goal percentage (.370%).
LAST TIME OUT
Sunday vs. CS Fullerton
Cherlanda Franklin tied her career high and scored 14 points to lead five Nevada players in double figures as the University of Nevada women’s basketball team beat the visiting CS Fullerton Titans 82-57 Sunday afternoon at Lawlor Events Center. Mikail Price (10 points), Dellena Criner (10 points), Johnna Ward (10 points), Shavon Moore (11 points) and Franklin (14 points) each scored in double figures for the Pack. Nevada opened the game on an 18-0 run and took a 20-4 lead on a layup by Marianne Lombardi with 12:42 remaining in the first. Criner scored on a layup with 10:57 remaining, stole CS Fullerton’s inbound pass and scored again to put the Pack up 26-7. The Pack opened the second half on a 13-4 run which was capped off with a layup by Criner with 15:18 left in the second half. Nevada held CS Fullerton to just 26 points in the second half as the Titans never got closer than 18 in the second half.
2008-09 SIGNEES
Nevada received signed National Letters of Intent from Amanda Johnson, a 5-6 guard from El Camino High School in Oceanside, Calif., Brittany Woodard, a four-year varsity team member from Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, Calif., and Kayla Williams, a four-year varsity starter from Reed High School in Sparks, Nev. Amanda Johnson is a four-year varsity player and has been the starting point guard at El Camino High School in Oceanside, Calif., since her freshman season. She led her high school team in scoring her sophomore and junior seasons and was named All-Avocado League MVP in 2005. As a junior in 2006-07, Johnson averaged 15.1 points per game, 5.2 assists per game, 4.0 rebounds per game and 2.8 steals per game. Brittany Woodard is a four-year varsity player from Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, Calif. She is a three-time Sierra Valley Conference All-League selection and is a two-time Sierra Valley Conference MVP. Kayla Williams is the third member of the Pack’s incoming class for next fall. She is a four-year varsity starter at Reed High School in Sparks, Nev. and plays club for Jam On It Basketball Academy. She is a three-time All-League Honoree, a second-team selection as a freshman and a first-team selection as a sophomore and junior.
A LOOK BACK
The University of Nevada women's basketball team enjoyed a very successful 2006-07 season in which the team posted a 17-15 overall record and advanced to post-season play for the first-time in school history. Nevada also finished with its highest ever win total in WAC play (10-6), including its first-ever win over La Tech. Nevada started the season 3-0, its best start in 25 years and had three players earn All-WAC honors at the end of the season. Dellena Criner was named to the All-WAC First Team, the All-WAC Defensive Team and to the WAC All-Tournament team while Traci Graham was named to the All-WAC Second Team. Marianne Lombardi was named to the All-Freshman Team marking the third consecutive season Nevada had a freshman named to the All-Freshman Team.
NEVADA PICKED SECOND, THIRD IN WAC PRESEASON POLLS
The University of Nevada women’s basketball team has been picked to finish second in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll and third in the Media Poll. Nevada, who received one first-place vote in each poll, also had two players named to the Preseason All-WAC Teams. Junior guard Dellena Criner was named to the First Team while junior guard Brandi Fitzgerald was named to the Second Team. Criner was also named to the Preseason All-WAC Media team.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Nevada will closeout its three-game home stand on Sunday, December 30, hosting San Francisco at 2 p.m. The Pack will then travel to Orem, Utah to face Utah Valley State on January 2 at 3 p.m. MT.
