NEVADA WOLF PACK (12-5, 3-1 WAC)
vs. LA TECH LADY TECHSTERS (8-9, 2-2 WAC)
~ GAME 18 ~
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 * 6 p.m. (PT) * Lawlor Events Center * Reno, Nev.
TV/RADIO: None/ESPN Deportes AM 1450; Ben Deach; Pregame 5:45 p.m.
INTERNET: Live stats and live streaming video (nevadawolfpack.com)
SERIES HISTORY: La Tech leads the all-time series 13-1
LAST MEETING: Nevada won 55-54 in Ruston on January 18, 2007 while La Tech posted a 73-62 win over Nevada in Reno on February 1, 2007.
About This Game
Nevada will return home on Thursday to face La Tech at 6 p.m. Nevada is 8-1 at home this season and has won seven straight and has not lost at home since November 11. La Tech leads the all-time series 13-1 but Nevada posted its first-ever win over the Lady Techsters last season in Ruston. Junior point guard Dellena Criner, who is averaging a league-leading 18.1 points per game, is 16 points away from scoring her 1,000th career point for the Pack.
About the Nevada Wolf Pack
Nevada suffered its first conference loss of the season on Jan. 19, falling at Boise State 82-74. Dellena Criner scored a career-high 33 points while Jennifer Gross and Johnna Ward each added 10 points for Nevada. Gross also grabbed a team-high eight boards. The Pack improved to 3-0 in WAC play for the first time in program history, beating Idaho 76-53 on Jan. 17. Criner led all scorers with 29 points, including going 10-of-10 from the free throw line, while Brandi Fitzgerald added 16 points for the Pack. Cherlanda Franklin grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and added five steals for the Pack. Nevada pushed its conference record to 2-0 Jan. 12 with a 75-65 win over Hawai`i. Fitzgerald recorded a double-double (21 points, 11 rebounds) for the Pack, while Criner added 19 points in the win. The Pack opened WAC play with a 72-51 win over San Jose State on Jan. 10. Criner led four Nevada players in double figures with 17 points. Shavon Moore (13 points), Ward (11 points) and Mikail Price (10 points) each scored in double figures in the win. As a team this season, Nevada is averaging just under 70 points per game (69.9) while holding its opponents to just over 60 points per contest (62.4). Criner (18.1 ppg) and Price (10.3 ppg) are the Pack’s leading scorers while Franklin leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.1 rpg. The Pack is coached by Kim Gervasoni who is in her fifth season with Nevada and has a 53-85 overall record.
About the La Tech Lady Techsters
La Tech is 8-9 overall this season and 2-2 in WAC play. The Lady Techsters played just one conference game last week, beating New Mexico State at home, 57-50, on Jan. 19. The Lady Techsters have beat Idaho this season and have fallen to Fresno State and Boise State. La Tech is led by JoKeirra Sneed who is averaging a double-double (13.6 ppg and 10.6 rpg) and Shanavia Dowdell who is averaging 11.9 points per game. As a team La Tech is averaging 67.1 points per game while their opponents are averaging 65.9 points per game. The Lady Techsters are coached by Chris Long who is in his third season with La Tech. He has a 51-27 record with the Lady Techsters.
Follow the Pack
On the Air (AM 1450 ESPN Deportes): 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, Don Marchand 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.
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
News and Notes
- After scoring 62 points in two games over the weekend, Dellena Criner has scored 984 career points and needs just 16 points to reach 1,000 for her career. She would become just the eighth player in history to score at least 1,000 career points.
- Dellena Criner was named WAC Player of the Week on Jan. 21 for the third time this season.
- Nevada is 8-1 at home this season and has won seven straight games at home. The Pack has not lost at Lawlor Events Center since November 11, 2007.
- Nevada opened the conference season with a 3-0 record marking the first time in program history that Nevada opened the WAC season 3-0 since Nevada joined the conference in 2000-01.
- Nevada is first in the conference in steals (228) and second in scoring defense (62.4 ppg).
- Brandi Fitzgerald, who recorded one steal at Idaho on Jan. 17, has 149 career steals and looks to join Dellena Criner (164 career steals) as the only two current Pack players with at least 150 career steals.
- This season the Pack has had 10 games in which Nevada has had at least three players score in double figures (Stephen F. Austin, Southern, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, CS Fullerton UNLV, San Francisco, San Jose State, Hawai`i and Boise St.). Nevada is 8-2 in games in which at least three players scored in double figures.
- Nevada finished its non-conference schedule 9-4 which marks the best non-conference finish under Kim Gervasoni and the most non-conference wins in program history since the 1999-00 team finished its non-conference schedule 11-4. Nevada also recorded the fewest non-conference losses (4) since the 1999-00 season.
- Nevada has not dropped below .500 all season. The Pack has been at .500 twice this season (1-1 and 2-2) but Nevada has been above .500 since Nov. 22. Nevada had a season-high .750 winning percentage on Dec. 30 when the team was 9-3 and on Jan. 17 with a 12-4 record.
- Nevada’s 84 points over UNLV on Dec. 28 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.
- Against CS Fullerton on Dec. 16, 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.
- With its win over San Francisco, Nevada improved to 9-3 this season and tied the program record for best start through 12 games. The 1999-00 and 1985-86 teams also started the season 9-3. The 1999-00 team recorded the best start in program history (11-3).
- Nevada has scored at least 60 points in 15 of its 17 games this season including scoring a season-high 84 points in a win versus UNLV on Dec. 28.
- Dellena Criner, who has scored in double-figures in 14 of the last 15 games, is averaging a WAC-leading 18.1 points per game. For her career, the junior guard has recorded 45 double-digit scoring games including 11 20-point games and two 30-point games.
- Nevada has held 14 of its 17 opponents to under 70 points this season, including holding seven opponents (Santa Clara, 51; Stephen F. Austin, 55; Southern, 52; UC Riverside, 52; CS Fullerton, 57; San Jose State, 52 and Idaho 53) to under 60 points per game. In addition, Nevada has held one opponent, San Francisco, to under 50 points (44).
- 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 (33) of any player in the conference this season. Her 33 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.
- The Pack has had four different players as Nevada’s top scorer. Dellena Criner has been Nevada’s leading scorer in 11 games, while Cherlanda Franklin has led the Pack in scoring three times. Mikail Price, Shavon Moore and Brandi Fitzgerald have each been Nevada’s leading scorer in one game this season.
- The Pack has had four players record a double-double this season, Marianne Lombardi Shavon Moore, Cherlanda Franklin and Brandi Fitzgerald. Lombardi recorded her first career double-double against Stephen F. Austin while Moore recorded her first career double-double at UC Riverside. Franklin recorded her third career double-double against Utah Valley University while Fitzgerald recorded her second career double-double against Hawai`i.
Criner Named to the WBCA National Player of the Month Honorable Mention Team
Dellena Criner was named to the WBCA National Player of the Month Honorable Mention Team for the month of December. Only one player from each conference can be nominated for the WBCA National Player of the Month. Criner earned the honor after being named WAC Player of the Week twice in December. During the month of December she recorded 10 consecutive double-digit scoring games, helped lead the team to a Nugget Classic Championship and was named Nugget Classic MVP. She scored a career-high 32 points against Idaho State on Dec. 2 and recorded a career-high eight steals versus Southern on Dec. 1. For the month, Criner averaged 18.5 points per game, shot 50.7 percent from the floor, 57.9 percent from three-point range and 74.7 percent from the line.
Gervasoni Wins 50th Career Game at Nevada
Fifth-year head coach Kim Gervasoni, who picked up her 50th career victory in Nevada’s 66-44 victory over San Francisco on Dec. 30, became just the second coach in Nevada history to win 50 games with the Pack. Gervasoni is the second winningest coach in Nevada history (53-85) and became 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, with a 117-161 record.
Double-Digit Scoring
Through the first 17 games of the season, seven Nevada players have recorded a total of 36 double-digit scoring games. Mikail Price has scored in double figures nine times this season, while Shavon Moore has scored in double digits six times. Cherlanda Franklin has scored in double figures three times and Johnna Ward has scored in double figures four times. Brandi Fitzgerald has recorded six double-digit scoring games. Marianne Lombardi, along with Jen Gross, has recorded one double-digit scoring game and is one of four Nevada players, along with Moore, Franklin and Fitzgerald, to record a double-double. Dellena Criner has recorded 15 double-digit scoring games this season.
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 17 games for Nevada.
Tough D
Through 17 games this season, Nevada has held 14 of its 17 opponents to under 70 points per game. The Pack has held opponents to under 60 points eight times this season versus Santa Clara (51), versus Stephen F. Austin (55), versus Southern (52), at UC Riverside (52), versus CS Fullerton (57), versus USF (44), versus San Jose State (52) and at Idaho (53). Through its first 17 games, Nevada is second in the WAC in scoring defense, holding opponents to 62.4 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 8.2 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 Two Home Games Televised
After playing in its first nationally-televised game last season, the Pack will play in two home 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 8 p.m. PT.
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.
Nevada’s 4th in the Nation in Steals (as of 1/17/08)
In the latest NCAA stats released Jan. 17, Nevada is fourth in the nation in steals. In 17 games Nevada has recorded 228 steals and is averaging 13.9 steals per contest. North Carolina leads the nation in steals (273 steals, 15.2 spg), followed by Morgan State (Baltimore, Md.) (204 steals, 14.6 spg) and Georgia Tech (252 steals, 14.0 spg). Mikail Price and Cherlanda Franklin are tied for second in the conference and lead the team in steals with 41 each, averaging 2.41 steals per contest. Dellena Criner is third on the team and seventh in the WAC with 35 steals, an average of 2.06 steals per game. Nevada’s 228 steals leads the conference and is 60 steals above Utah State who is second in the WAC in total steals with 168.
NEVADA IN THE WAC STATS (all games; as of 1/19/08)
Individual:
Points: Dellena Criner, 1st (18.1); Mikail Price t15th (10.3)
Field Goal Pct: Shavon Moore, 1st (.563); Dellena Criner, 12th (.442); Brandi Fitzgerald, 14th (.417)
Free Throw Pct: Dellena Criner, 5th (.759); Mikail Price, 9th (.716)
Rebounding: Cherlanda Franklin, 20th (5.1)
Assists: Dellena Criner, 4th (3.06)
Steals: Mikail Price, t2nd (2.41); Cherlanda Franklin, t2nd (2.41); Dellena Criner, 7th (2.06)
3-Point FG Pct: Dellena Criner, 1st (.429)
Blocked Shots: Cherlanda Franklin, 6th (17)
Minutes Played: Dellena Criner, 2dn (32.35)
3-Point FG Made: Dellena Criner, 5th (24); Johnna Ward, t11th (21)
Offensive Rebounds: Shavon Moore, 13th (2.33)
Team:
1st: scoring margin (+6.0); steals (228); 3-pt FG Pct. (.343)
2nd: scoring defense (62.4ppg)
3rd: scoring offense (69.9); FG Pct. (.405)
Last Time Out
Saturday at Boise State
Despite a career-high 33 points from guard Dellena Criner, the University of Nevada women’s basketball team suffered its first WAC loss of the season, falling 82-74 at Boise State. Boise State opened the game taking an 11-4 lead with 14:20 remaining despite not hitting a shot from the field for the first three minutes of the game. Criner and Bre`Anna Henry scored on back-to-back possessions coming out of the first media time out to cut Boise State’s lead to 11-8 with 13:40 remaining in the first half. The Pack took its first lead of the game, 15-14, after Johnna Ward drained a three-pointer with 12:04 left in the first half. The Pack and the Broncos traded baskets until Mikail Price and Criner each hit long three pointers to put Nevada up 21-16 with 7:52 left in the first half. Boise State extended its lead to 44-39 with 15:37 remaining in the game before Criner’s three pointer pulled Nevada to within two, 44-42, with just over 15 minutes left in the game. The Pack retook the lead 49-48 with 12:14 remaining on a pair of free throws from Criner. Boise State went up 71-65 with just under four minutes to play before Criner’s layup cut the Broncos lead to 71-67.
2008-09 Signess
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 host New Mexico State on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Nevada/New Mexico State game will be televised on a tape-delay basis on KAME at 8 p.m. The Pack will travel to Fresno State on Jan. 31 for a 7 p.m. game against the Bulldogs.
