Nevada Notes 
Dec. 27, 2011
RENO, Nev. -
The University of Nevada women's basketball team (3-8, 0-0 WAC) returns home to host the inaugural Peppermill Holiday Classic at Lawlor Events Center. Nevada will open up the tournament Thursday against Long Island at 2 p.m.
It will mark the first time the schools have played each other. Oklahoma State and Mississippi State will square off in the second game at 4 p.m. Friday the consolation game will be played at 5 p.m. and the championship game will take place at 7 p.m.
PROMOTIONAL CORNER
Both days of the Peppermill Holiday Classic are Pup Club days as members who receive free entrance, are invited to form a tunnel for the women's basketball team to run through, and to stand on the court during the National Anthem. Pup Club members wishing to participate should congregate at the Nevada bench with 10:00 minutes to go on the pregame clock. Be sure to wear your Pup Club shirt and lanyard.
Church groups are also invited to attend the two days for free. Fans wishing to take part in the promotion simply need to bring in a church bulletin on both days to get four people in for free.
LAST?TIME?OUT
The University of Nevada women's basketball fell to BYU 84-53 last Thursday afternoon.
Nevada opened the game strong, battling BYU to a 16-14 lead eight minutes into the game. BYU applied a full court press to take the lead and control of the game. The Cougars shot an impressive 64 percent from the field in the opening half while Nevada struggled, connecting on 29 percent of its attempts. BYU's center Kristen Riley carried the Cougars to a 44-22 halftime lead with 13 points.
The offensive woes continued for the Pack in the second half as they went without a made field until the 16 minute mark. BYU was dominant in the paint, ending the game scoring 36 points down low. The Cougars committed to the full court press for a large part of the half to keep the game in hand.
Danika Sharp led the team in scoring, finishing with 14 points. Arielle Wideman and Chanelle Brennan also finished in double figures, scoring 11 and 10 points respectively.
CLOSE?GAMES?FOR?THE?PACK?
Although Nevada is 3-8 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 .857.
SHARP FROM?THE?LINE
Sophomore guard Danika Sharp has been impressive at the free throw line, converting on 30-35 of her attempts this season. Her sharp shooting from the stripe puts her in first place in the WAC free throw percentage category at .857. 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 44 rejections on the year puts them in first place in that team WAC category. The Pack is averaging four blocks per game as a team. In the Oregon win Kayla Williams recorded six blocks in the game which is third best in the program's history.
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. The honor marked the first WAC Player of the Week of her career.
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 11 games for the Pack, starting in four.
REBOUNDING EXPERTISE
Dating back to the beginning of the 2008-09 season, Nevada has out-rebounded or tied its opponents in rebounding in 59 games. This year, the Pack has out-rebounded 8 of its 11 opponents by a total margin of 3.7 boards per game. The Pack sits in first in the WAC in defensive rebounds, offensive rebounding percentage, rebounding offense, rebounding margin, and second in offensive rebounds and defensive rebounding percentage.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE'S FOR?#34
Senior forward Kayla Williams collected her 17th career double-double in the win over Oregon with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Williams recorded a total of eight double-doubles in the 2010-11 season.
TOUGH AT HOME
Nevada has pulled together and impressive run of success in the friendly confines of Lawlor Events Center going 34-18 at home in the last four seasons. In her first season leading the Wolf Pack, Jane Albright coached the team to its first win over a ranked opponent in program history when the Pack stunned then No. 7 Louisville by beating the Cardinals 85-82 at the 2008 John Ascuaga's Nugget Classic. Last year, Nevada went 11-5 at home after going a perfect 7-0 at Lawlor in the non-conference season. Nevada set a new record for home attendance in the WNIT second-round game, with 3,361 fans watching the Pack take on USC. The team has a winning record of 3-2 at home this season
