NEVADA (2-0)
at ST. MARY'S (1-1)
GAME 3 ~ Non-Conference Play
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 ~ 5:30 p.m. (PT) ~ McKeon Pavilion ~ Moraga, Calif.
RADIO: Fox Sports Radio 1450 AM; Don Marchand, pregame 15 minutes before tip off
INTERNET: Live stats (www.nevadawolfpack.com)
SERIES HISTORY: St Mary's leads the all-time series 6-7.
LAST MEETING: Nevada beat St. Mary's 99-91 in Reno on November 23, 2008.
About This Game
Nevada is 2-0 this season marking the first time since 2007-08 that the team opened the year with back-to-back wins. Nevada will be in search of its first 3-0 start since 2006-07 when the team travels to St. Mary's for its first road game of the season on Friday night at 5:30 p.m.
About the Nevada Wolf Pack
Nevada is on a two-game win streak after beating UC Santa Barbara 59-43 at home on November 16. Kayla Williams scored a career-high 16 points and added a career-high nine rebounds in the win while Johnna Ward added 13 points and a career-high six assists.
The Pack will play six of its first seven games of the season at home with its lone road game during that span being played on November 20 at St. Mary's at 5:30 p.m.
As a team, the Pack is shooting 39.4 percent from the floor, 25.0 from three-point range and 77.5 percent from three point range. Nevada is averaging 61.0 points per game while its opponents are averaging 41.0 points per game. The Pack is outrebounding its opponents by an average of six boards per game and Nevada is averaging 14.0 steals per game.
The Pack has two players averaging double-digits in scoring, Johnna Ward (13.0 ppg) and Marissa Hammond (10 ppg).
The Wolf Pack is coached by second-year head coach Jane Albright who has an 20-14 record at Nevada.
Follow the Pack
On the Air (Fox Sports Radio 1450 AM): All 30 of Nevada's regular-season games can be heard on Fox Sports Radio 1450 AM. Twenty-eight of Nevada's games this season will be called by Don Marchand while two, the Nugget Classic games, will be called by Johnny Doskow.
Live Stats: All of Nevada's home games this season and select road games will have live stats and be available online at the following link.
http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=10000&SPID=4085&SPSID=45453
Live Streaming Audio: All of Nevada's home games this season and select road games will have live streaming audio and can be found at the link below.
http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=10000&SPID=4085&SPSID=45453
Live Streaming Video: All of Nevada's home games this season and select road games will have live streaming video and can be found at the link below.
http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=10000&SPID=4085&SPSID=45453
About St. Mary's
St. Mary's (1-1) is coming off a 68-65 loss at #13 Cal Tuesday night. The Gaels led the Bears 64-59 with 4:30 left in the game before Cal went ahead 65-63 with 48 seconds left in the game. St. Mary's had three players score in double figures in the game. The Gaels opened the season at home on Nov. 13 with a 76-69 win over Idaho State.
This season St. Mary's is averaging 70.5 points per game to its opponents 68.5 points per game. The Gales are shooting 70.2 percent from the free throw line, 41.2 percent from the floor and 32.3 percent from three-point range.
St. Mary's has four players averaging in double figures this season led by Ashlee Smith who is averaging 12.5 points per game. The Gaels are coached by Paul Thomas who is in this third year at St. Mary's and 16th year overall.
Nevada News and Notes
- Through its first two games the Pack is outscoring its opponents an average of 20 points per game.
- All nine of the players who played for Nevada against UC Santa Barbara scored at least two points and recorded at least one rebound.
- The Pack recorded 17 assists on 24 field goals against UC Santa Barbara. The 17 assists are the most assists since the Pack recorded 19 assists on 27 field goals in a 77-45 win over Boise State on January 30, 2009.
- Through two games this year the Pack is outscoring its opponents 122-82.
- Sophomore forward Kayla Williams has led Nevada in both games in rebounding this season.
- Kayla Williams is second in the WAC in rebounds per game averaging 8.0 rebounds per game.
- As of Nov. 16 Nevada is leading the WAC, or tied for the conference lead, in three categories: free throw percentage (.775); blocked shots (10) and defensive rebounds (57).
Johnson, Gross Record First Career Starts
Sophomore point guard Amanda Johnson made her first career start Friday night against Cal State Monterey Bay and played a career-high 23 minutes. She recorded two points and four rebounds.
Junior guard Jennifer Gross also recorded her first career start against Cal State Monterey Bay. She played 25 minutes and recorded five points, six rebounds and a career-high five assists.
Two Returners Set Career Highs in First Games of Season
Junior guard Nicole Williams recorded a career-high 12 points against Cal State Monterey Bay. Williams' previous career high was eight points set at Idaho in 2009. Sophomore forward Kayla Williams recorded a career-high 16 points against UCSB. Her previous career high was 15 against Louisville.
Hammond Ties Career High Against Cal State Monterey Bay
Junior forward Marissa Hammond tied her career high and scored 16 points against Cal State Monterey Bay. She scored 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
The Pack Successful at Home
Since the beginning of the 2007-08 season, Nevada has recorded a 27-7 record at Lawlor Events Center. Last season the Pack finished the year 13-4 at home while the team recorded a 12-3 record at Lawlor Events Center during the 2007-08 season. This season Nevada is 2-0 at Lawlor Events Center.
Last Time Out
RENO, Nev. - Kayla Williams scored a career-high 16 points and added a career-high nine boards and Johnna Ward added 13 points and a career-high six assists as the University of Nevada women's basketball team beat UC Santa Barbara 59-43 Monday night at Lawlor Events Center.
All nine players who played for the Pack scored at least two points and grabbed at least one rebound. As a team Nevada recorded 17 assists on 24 field goals and has not trailed so far this season. With the win, Nevada improved to 2-0 while UC Santa Barbara fell to 0-2.
Nevada opened the game on a 10-3 run and took a seven point lead after a pair of free throws from Kayla Williams. The Gauchos cut the lead to four, 10-14, with 10:37 left in the half before the Pack went into halftime leading by eight, 28-20.
In the second half, the Pack extended its lead to 13 points, 37-24, after two free throws by Marianne Lombardi with 15:20 left in the game. The Guachos trailed by eight after a jumper by Mekia Valentine with 10:26 remaining. The Pack pushed the lead back up and led by 14, 55-41, after a jumper by Amanda Johnson as Nevada went on to post the 59-43 win.
The Pack finished the game shooting 40 percent (24-of-64) from the floor and 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the free throw line. The Gauchos ended the game shooting 26 percent (13-of-50) from the floor and 63 percent (17-of-27) from the free throw line.
Last Time Versus St. Mary's
RENO, Nev. - Brandi Jones and Johnna Ward led five Nevada players in double figures as the University of Nevada women's basketball team downed St. Mary's 99-91 Sunday afternoon in Lawlor Events Center.
With the win, Nevada improved to 2-3 while St. Mary's fell to 0-5. The 99 points scored by Nevada was the most points scored by the Pack since the team scored 104 in a 104-97 win over U.S. International on March 1, 1986.
Johnna Ward's three pointer with 14:25 left in the first half put the Pack up 15-8 before Marissa Hammond's fast-break layup with 10:37 remaining in the first half gave Nevada a 26-19 lead. Brittany Woodard hit a three with 1:29 left in the half to give Nevada a 14-point lead, 55-41, and the Pack went into half ahead 59-45.
In the second half, the Pack led by 18, 63-45, early in the half before the Gales battled back and cut the lead to two, 70-68, with 10:45 left in the game. A three-point play by Shavon Moore with 5:56 left in the game put Nevada up 84-78. St. Mary's again cut the Pack's lead to two, 88-86, with just over three minutes left but a pair of three pointers from Ward and Moore down the stretch helped Nevada secure the win.
Rebounding Advantage
Dating back to the beginning of the 2008-09 season, Nevada has outrebounded or tied its opponents in rebounding in 21 games. During the 2008-09 season, Nevada outrebounded its opponents in eight straight games from January 8 through February 6, 2009.
This season Nevada has outrebounded Cal State Monterey Bay, 41-to-27, with the Pack grabbing 14 offensive rebounds in the win. To date this season, Nevada is 1-0 in games in which the team outrebounds its opponent.
Getting to the Free Throw Line
Dating back to the start of the 2008-09 season, the Pack has taken more free throws than its opponents has attempted eight times. This season Nevada went 21-of-27 from the free throw line while Cal State Monterey Bay was 8-of-13 from the free throw line.
Home Attendance Increases in 2008-09
During the 2008-09 season the Pack averaged 1,063 fans per game, an increase of 314 fans per game from the 2007-08 season when the team averaged 749 fans per home game. Last year, the Pack played in eight home games in front of at least 1,000 fans, with two home games being played in front of over 2,000 fans.
The third best crowd in program history (2,661) watched Nevada play Fresno State. Other top crowds this season include: 2,281 vs. Fresno State in the WAC final; 1,623 vs. Boise State; 1,563 vs. Boise State in the WAC Tournament; 1,518 vs. LA Tech in the WAC Tournament; 1,397 vs. Idaho; 1,179 vs. Utah State and 1,006 against Hawai'i.
Nevada Newcomers
Nevada has three newcomers on this year's team: freshman guard Holly Jones (Colts Neck, N.J.); junior college transfer Tahnee Robinson (Fort Washakie, Wyo.) and transfer Kate Kevorken (Westlake Village, Calif.).
Jones attended IMG Academies as a senior and attended Oak Hill Academy in Virginia as a sophomore and junior. As a junior she averaged 13.8 points per game, 8.3 assists per game and 2.2 rebounds per game as a junior. Robinson comes to Nevada after attending Sheridan College where last season she led the nation in scoring with 29.8 points per game and was a NJCAA All-American.
Kevorken, who will redshirt this season, played two seasons at Northern Colorado where she was UNC's Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman after making 70 three-pointers, which was just two shy of the school single-season record and ranked in the top 10 in the Big Sky recordbooks. In two seasons, Kevorken made 126 three-pointers, which ranks fifth all time at UNC.
Hammond, N. Williams Earn All-WAC Honors in Track and Field
Juniors Marissa Hammond and Nicole Williams again competed for the Nevada track and field team and earned All-WAC honors at the WAC Outdoor Championships. Each also recorded a qualifying mark for the NCAA West Regional meet.
Williams, a high jumper, earned All-WAC honors in 2009 and finished fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.72m. She also recorded the second-best jump in program history earlier in the season (1.76m). Hammond, a javelin thrower, placed fourth to earn second-team All-WAC honors. She also recorded the fifth best mark in program history.
Nevada to Host the 2010 WAC Basketball Tournament
The University and the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) will play host to the 2010 WAC tournament at the 11,536-seat Lawlor Events Center, located on the university campus in Reno. The 2010 tournament will run from March 9-13. This will mark the fourth time that Nevada will serve as host to the WAC's basketball tournaments with the event being held in Reno in 2005 and 2006. The University of Nevada has played host to a total of 15 WAC Championships since joining the conference in 2001, including the volleyball tournament five times from 2002-06, basketball in '05 and '06, indoor track and field in '01 and '02, baseball in '07, men's golf in '07, soccer in '06 and '08 and women's golf in '01.
Collect All 15 University of Nevada Basketball Player Trading Cards
At each home game this season, fans will have the opportunity to collect trading cards featuring each member of the 2009-10 team. Each player will have a trading card night and after the game that player will be available at the marketing table in front of the band to sign their cards. Stop by the marketing and promotions table by the band after each home game.
Nov. 16 UCSB Holly Jones
Nov. 23 Weber St. Catherine Wyre
Nov. 27 Columbia Christina Gough
Nov. 28 Nugget Brittany Woodard
Dec. 6 UNLV Kayla Williams
Dec.22 Washington State Amanda Johnson
Jan. 9 Boise St. Nicole Williams
Jan. 21 Fresno St. Shavon Moore
Jan. 26 LA Tech Jennifer Gross
Feb. 6 San Jose St. Tahnee Robinson
Feb.13 Utah St. Johnna Ward
Feb.15 Hawaii Kate Kevorken
Mar. 3 NMSU Marissa Hammond Megan Cherry
Mar. 6 Idaho Marianne Lombardi
Ticket Information
Single-Game Tickets:
$7 per adult
$4 per youth (12 and under) and Senior (65 and older)
$4 groups of 10 or more
Season Tickets:
Season tickets are just $40 for adults and $20 for kids 8th grade and under and seniors 65 and older.
Tickets can be purchased at the door starting 1 hour prior to the game at Lawlor Events Center. Group tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 775-682-6905.
Bicycle Giveaways
Beginning with the Nevada/Cal State Monterey Bay game on Friday, there will be a bicycle given away at each Nevada home game this season. Fans in middle school and under can sign up each home game by the Nevada band for a chance to ride away on a new bike. For more information contact Holly Aycock at 682-6961.
Moore, Lombardi Named Team Captains
Junior forward Shavon Moore and senior forward Marianne Lombardi have been selected as captains for the women's basketball team for the 2009-10 season head coach Jane Albright announced Monday.
"Captains are an important piece of the success of any team. Shavon and Marianne have both endured through tough physical injuries and have earned the respect of their teammates because of their hard work and perseverance," Albright said. "Both of them are strong leaders by example and I expect them to greatly influence the culture of this team."
Moore, a 6-1 forward from Riverside, Calif., played in all 32 games as a sophomore while making 28 starts. She averaged 7.0 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game. Last season she recorded career highs in both point (16 vs. Boise State) and rebounds (18 vs. LA Tech). She leads all active players in double-doubles with five and was named to the WAC All-Academic team.
Lombardi, a 6-1 senior from Yakima, Wash., played in 31 games as a junior last season while shooting 50 percent from the free throw line. She was named to the WAC All-Academic team for the third time in her career.
Upcoming Schedule
Nevada will play at St. Mary's on Friday, November 20 at 5:30 p.m. before returning home to host Weber State on Monday, November 23 at 7 p.m. The Pack will host the annual Nugget Classic on Nov. 27-28. The Pack will open Classic play on Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. against Columbia while Iowa will take on West Virginia at 4 p.m. The consolation game will be played on Nov. 28 at 5 p.m. followed by the championship game at 7 p.m.
