Jan. 22, 2012
RENO, Nev. -
The University of Nevada women's basketball team (4-13, 0-2 WAC) will end its current four-game road trip with a visit to Moscow, Idaho to face the Vandals Monday at 6:00 p.m.
The teams were originally scheduled to play last Thursday before a snowstorm in the Pacific Northwest caused the game to be postponed. Idaho (5-14, 0-3 WAC) leads the overall series with Nevada 17-15. The two teams last met in the quarterfinal game of the WAC tournament last season. Nevada won 75-61 on a game high 35 points from Tahnee Robinson. The Vandals are currently on a six-game losing streak and are coming off a 72-49 defeat to Fresno State Saturday evening. Idaho is led by their sophomore guard Alyssa Charlston who is averaging 13.7 ppg 7.6 rpg.
LAST?TIME?OUT
Utah State defeated the University of Nevada women's basketball team 91-69 Saturday evening.
Utah State jumped out to an 11-2 lead to begin the game. Kate Kevorken kept Nevada within single digits, scoring seven straight points for the Pack. Utah State's guard Devyn Christensen had the hot shooting hand for the Aggies as she converted on 4-6 of her three point attempts, finishing the half with 16 points. The Aggies shot 60 percent from the field to Nevada's 36.7 percent to take a 53-30 lead at the half. Kevorken was the bright spot for Nevada in the opening half, leading the team with 18 points.
Amanda Johnson came out of the break aggressive, looking to spark Nevada by scoring four straight points. Utah State held control of the game by feeding the ball into the post, scoring 52 points in the paint. The Aggies continued to shoot well in the second half and built their biggest lead of the game to 29 with eight minutes left to play. Utah State never relinquished their early lead to win the game.
CAPTAIN KATE LEADS THE TEAM
Senior captain Kate Kevorken has been a constant presence for Nevada on the offensive end this season. The forward has led Nevada in scoring in 10 of its 19 games. Kevorken's 16.8 ppg average is good for second best in the WAC. Her 38 made three-pointers puts Kevorken in second place in the WAC.
BRENNAN?STEPS?UP
Guard Chanelle Brennan has stepped up in her expanded role this year. The Junior transfer chipped in 10 points and three rebounds in the loss to Utah State. Brennan led Nevada with 13 points in the WAC opener against Fresno State. The guard 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 17 games for the Pack, starting in eight.
CLOSE?GAMES?FOR?THE?PACK
?Although Nevada is 4-13 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 was effective on the boards in the loss to the Aggies, leading the team with nine rebounds. 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 79 rejections on the year puts them in first place in that team WAC category. The Pack is averaging 4.65 blocks per game as a team. In the CSU Bakersfield win Kayla Williams recorded six blocks in the game which is third best in the program's history.
