Jan. 19, 2012
RENO, Nev. -
Nevada Notes 
The University of Nevada women's basketball team (4-12, 0-1 WAC) will continue its current four-game road trip with a visit to Logan, Utah to face the Aggies (11-5, 2-0 WAC) Saturday at 6:00 p.m. PT.
Utah State and Nevada are tied in their series at seven games apiece. Utah State defeated Nevada in their last meeting 79-73 in Reno. The Aggies are currently on a six-game winning streak and have won their first two conference games by double digit margins. Senior Ashlee Brown leads the team at the forward spot, averaging 15.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg.
LAST?TIME?OUT
The University of Nevada women's basketball team opened WAC play with an 85-67 loss against Fresno State last Saturday evening.
The Bulldogs raced out to an 11-0 lead on eight straight points by Alex Sheedy. Nevada fought back to take the lead with 12 unanswered points. Freshman Aja Johnson continued her impressive play off the bench for the Pack, leading the team with six first half points. Fresno State got hot from behind the arc, connecting on 8-16 of their three point attempts. The Bulldogs led at halftime 42-31.
Nevada came out of the break determined to get back in the game. The Pack cut the Bulldogs lead to eight at the 15:32 mark, converting on five of its first six shots. Chanelle Brennan was aggressive attacking the Bulldogs defense, leading Nevada with a team high 13 points. Fresno State went on an 18-6 run to build their biggest lead of the game to 20 with 10 minutes left to play. The Bulldogs continued to hit their long-range shots, finishing the game shooting 45 percent from behind the arc. Seven of Fresno State's 10 players made a three-point basket as the team hit 14-31. The Pack won the battle in the paint, scoring 44 points to the Bulldogs 24 down low. Fresno State's ability to knock down the three proved to be the difference as the Bulldogs won 85-67. Fresno State was led off the bench by Veronica Wilson's 18 points.
BRENNAN?STEPS?UP
Guard Chanelle Brennan has stepped up in her expanded role this year. The Junior transfer led Nevada with 13 points in the WAC opener against Fresno State. Brennan surpassed her previous career high of 14 points by finishing with 17 in the win against CSU Bakersfield earlier this season. In the overtime loss against Long Beach State. Brennan collected her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The junior transfer has appeared in all 16 games for the Pack, starting in seven.
CLOSE?GAMES?FOR?THE?PACK?
Although Nevada is 4-12 on the year, nine of the games have been decided by 10 points or less. The Pack is 3-6 in those games, defeating CSU Bakersfield 85-76 (9), Oregon 76-74 (2) and Butler 71-69 (2) in the Nugget Classic. Nevada is 2-4 in games decided by 5 points or less, losing to Mississippi State in the Peppermill Holiday Classic consolation game 67-63 (4).
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).
FRESHMEN MAKING?THEIR?MARK
As a young team, Nevada is leaning on production from its newcomers. Aja Johnson received her first career start in the Peppermill Holiday Classic consolation game against Mississippi St., logging 28 minutes and finishing with five points, five rebounds and four blocks. Johnson had a breakout game in the win over CSU Bakersfield, eclipsing her career high off the bench with 17 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Johnson shot 75 percent from the field in the Fresno State loss, finishing with seven points. Emily Burns had her breakout game against the Lady Bulldogs, recording a career high 11 points with six rebounds in 24 minutes of action. The two newcomers both started the game against in-state rival UNLV.
PACK ON TOP OF THE WAC STATS
Forward Kayla Williams leads the WAC individual statistical category for blocks with 34 and field goal percentage at .510.
BLOCK PARTY FOR THE PACK
Nevada's 76 rejections on the year puts them in first place in that team WAC category. The Pack is averaging 4.75 blocks per game as a team. In the CSU Bakersfield win Kayla Williams recorded sixblocks in the game which is third best in the program's history.
