Box Score OGDEN, Utah - The University of Nevada fought out a tough victory over Weber State on the road Thursday, 74-72 at the Dee Events Center to improve to 10-2 on the year while Weber State drops to 4-7. Nevada pulled out the victory shorthanded as team leading scorer Tahnee Robinson was forced to return home with her family earlier in the day due to a death in the family.
The win continues Nevada's run of its best start to a season in school history. Three other teams in the record book have gone 9-3 (2007-08, 1999-2000 and 1985-86). The Pack has now won four straight and hasn't had a five-game win streak since Feb. 2, 2009. Nevada is working closer to the longest win streak in history at nine, dating back to Dec. 4, 1999-Jan. 1, 2000.
For the game, Nevada shot 54.4 percent from the field, hitting six three-pointers, but just 6-11 free throws. The Wolf Pack won its sixth game of the year by five points or less and its fourth road game of the year, which tied its total number of road wins from a year ago. For the ninth time this year, the Pack out-rebounded its opponent taking 35 over the Wildcats 27 and outscored Weber State in the paint 36-24, second-chance points 10-6 and fast break points 4-0. Nevada, down 45-33 at the half, outscored Weber State 41-27 in the second half to pull out the win.
The Pack was led by senior captain Shavon Moore who set a new career high for the second time this season with 24 points. Moore came up big hitting 11 -15 from the field, hitting her first three-pointer of the season. Junior Kayla Williams picked up her eighth career double-double, third on the year, with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Williams, who is second in the WAC in blocked shots, added to her team leading tally with three in the game. Amanda Johnson scored 11 points, with a career high three three-pointers and also had two assists and one steal.
Reno local and Galena High School grad Caitlin Anderson led all scorers for Weber State, just two off a career high with 26 points. She hit 7-11 from the field with four three-pointers and 8-10 from the charity stripe.
The Wolf Pack struck early, taking a 2-0 of a deep jump shot by Johnna Ward just inside the arc at the top of the key. The Pack then went on a scoring drought, allowing Weber State to build a 12-2 lead with just over 17 minutes to play. Moore then stepped up and began to take control of the offense scoring five unanswered points, leading the Pack to an 11-3 run.
The two teams than began to exchange fast-paced baskets on either ends of the floor. The Wildcats then built their biggest lead of the half at intermission, 45-33. Moore scored 15 at the half, while the Pack was shooting 50 percent from the floor. Nevada had allowed Anderson to rack up 17 points and Weber State to hit six threes as a team.
The second half started with much of the same, but it didn't take long for the Pack to get back in the game. Moore made the first two baskets of the second half for the Pack, but then Kayla Williams began attacking the basket, having scored nine of her second half points by the 10 minute mark putting the Pack down 57-53.
After early foul trouble took her out for almost the entire first half, Johnson went on a tear in the second half right alongside Williams. Williams regained the lead for Nevada with a layup to get up 64-62 with 5:48 to play. The remaining minutes of the game were a dramatic battle as the Pack was up just one, 71-70 as the game entered the final minute.
The game came down to the final two possessions. With the teams tied at 72, Moore hit a shot off a miss by Williams with 6.5 seconds left. Weber State then drove back down the floor and Justine Johnson drove the lane covered well by Ward and could a contested layup that had little chance of falling and the Wolf Pack pulled it out.
