Dec. 20, 2011
RENO, Nev. -
The University of Nevada women's basketball team (3-7, 0-0 WAC) will hit the road with a trip to Provo, Utah to face BYU (10-2, 0-0 WCC).
The Cougars are riding a nine-game win streak, with their last loss occurring November 16 against Kansas State. BYU is led by their sophomore guard Kim Parker at 12.6 points per game. Nevada trails the overall series 1-5 and won the previous meeting 57-53 in Reno last season. Kayla Williams finished the game with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
LAST?TIME?OUT
The University of Nevada women's basketball team defeated Oregon 76-74 Wednesday evening to end a five-game losing streak.
Nevada's offense sputtered to begin the game as Oregon jumped to an 8-1 lead in the first five minutes. The Wolf Pack came alive after the team's first made field goal on a three point basket by Danika Sharp. Nevada carried the momentum to a 9-8 lead at the 15 minute mark. The teams battled back and forth with a total of 17 lead changes. Sharp proved to have the hot hand in the first half, knocking down five of her seven three point attempts. The Pack took a 44-32 advantage into halftime on a buzzer beater from downtown by Kate Kevorken.
Oregon came out of the break on a 6-0 run looking to cut into Nevada's lead. Nevada composed itself and looked inside to their senior forward Kayla Williams to maintain the lead. Williams was effective on both ends of the floor, achieving her 17th career double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Kayla also recorded six blocks in the game which is third best in the program's history. Oregon turned on the defensive intensity to tie the game at 74 with a minute left to play. Both teams had opportunities to pull ahead before Nevada received possession on a jump ball with 14 seconds left. Nevada inbounded the ball and found Kate Kevorken at the high post who got off a contested jumper that rattled home as time expired for the win.
Kate Kevorken lead Nevada with her second career double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Danika Sharp also scored in double figures with 19 points.
POW?FOR?KEVORKEN
Kate Kevorken had an impressive outing in the 76-74 win over Oregon. The senior recorded her second career double-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and knocked down the game winning shot at the buzzer. With that performance Kevorken was named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Dec. 12-18. This is the first WAC Player of the Week honor of her career.
CLOSE?GAMES?FOR?THE?PACK?
Although Nevada is 3-7 on the year, eight of the games have been decided by 10 points or less. The Pack is 2-6 in those games, defeating Oregon 76-74 (2) and Butler 71-69 (2) in the Nugget Classic. Nevada is 2-3 in games decided by 5 points or less, losing to Cal State Fullerton 76-74 (2).
SPEAKING?OF?CLOSE?GAMES
Nevada has battled teams late in games this season. Twice this year the game has gone into overtime. Nevada is 0-2 in its overtime games this year, falling to Pacific 75-70 and Long Beach State 61-58. As a program Nevada has played in 25 overtime games, going 8-17 (.32). Nevada's last overtime win occurred in the WAC tournament on March 12, 2009 against LA Tech 91-88. The most overtime games the Pack has had in a season is two (1997-1998)
PACK ON TOP?OF?THE?WAC STATS
Nevada has players leading two WAC individual statistical categories. Forward Kayla Williams is in first for blocks with 22 and guard Danika Sharp has the best free throw percentage at .885.
SHARP FROM?THE?LINE
Sophomore guard Danika Sharp has been impressive at the free throw line, converting on 23-26 of her attempts this season. Her sharp shooting from the stripe puts her in first place in the WAC free throw percentage category at .885. Sharp made 24 straight free throws dating back to Nevada's WNIT second round loss to USC on March 20, 2011.
BLOCK?PARTY?FOR?THE?PACK
Nevada's 43 rejections on the year puts them in first place in that team WAC category. In the Oregon win Kayla Williams recorded six blocks in the game which is third best in the program's history.
BRENNAN?STEPS?UP
Guard Chanelle Brennan had a record night in the overtime loss against Long Beach State. Brennan collected her first career double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds. The two totals eclipsed her previous career best of seven points and five rebounds. The junior transfer has appeared in all nine games for the Pack, starting in two.
