Box Score
RENO, Nev. Dellena Criner and Cherlanda Franklin each scored 15 points for Nevada as the University of Nevada women’s basketball team beat Idaho 68-48 Saturday night. Sabrina Keys (11 points) and Mikail Price (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Pack.
With the win, Nevada improved to 18-7 overall and 9-3 in the WAC. With four regular season games remaining, Nevada is now two wins away from the first 20-win season in program history and is one win away from tying the program record for wins in a season (19). Nevada’s win over Idaho Saturday night gave Nevada its most overall wins under fifth-year head coach Kim Gervasoni (18).
Nevada opened the game on a 16-2 run on a Price three pointer with 10:42 remaining in the half. Idaho did not record its first field goal of the game until Yinka Olorunnife scored on a jumper with 9:50 left in the half.
Nevada led by as many as 16 on two occasions in the first half. Idaho pulled to within eight at halftime, 25-17. The 17 points Nevada allowed in the first half ties the Pack’s season low. Nevada also allowed 17 first-half points against Santa Clara and San Francisco earlier this season.
Nevada opened the second half on a 6-0 run to take a 31-17 lead with 18:30 remaining in the game. Idaho pulled to within six, 31-25, with 16:38 remaining before Nevada extended its lead to 14 points, 44-30, on Keys’ jumper with 12:09 left in the game.
The Pack extended its lead to 18 points on a pair free throws by Bre'Anna Henry and Nevada took its largest lead of the game, 20 points, with 39 seconds remaining on a layup by Jessica Cox.
“Coming off a loss we wanted this game so bad,” Gervasoni said. “Our defense was amazing, holding Idaho to 17 first-half points. I challenged our posts in this game and I thought they stepped up to the challenge.”
Brandi Fitzgerald and Franklin each pulled down a team-high five rebounds for Nevada. The Pack recorded 19 steals in the game and scored 34 points off turnovers.
Nevada will travel to Logan, Utah to face Utah State on Thursday at 7 p.m. MT.
