RENO, Nev. – The Nevada women's basketball team will go for its fifth consecutive win as it looks to upset the Mountain West regular season champions, Fresno State, this Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.

The Wolf Pack has won four in a row, and five of its last six, to jump from ninth in the MW standings into a tie for sixth place. Additionally Nevada is just one game out of the coveted fifth spot in the league standings, which would give the team a first round bye in the upcoming MW Tournament. During this four-game win streak, senior Marguerite Effa has been a force to be reckoned with. Effa is shooting a highly impressive 64.9 percent from the field in the last four games to average 13.5 points per game. She isn't Nevada's top scorer during this run though. That honor goes to sophomore Essence Booker, who is averaging 14.0 points per game and has hit 17-of-19 from the free throw line.

Fresno State has already clinched the MW regular season title but suffered its first conference loss on Wednesday night on the road at Air Force. The Falcons outscored the Bulldogs in all four quarters to earn an 88-65 win and snap Fresno State's 14-game win streak. The Bulldogs boast three of the top four scorers in the Mountain West this season, led by a pair of freshmen twins in Haley Cavinder and Hanna Cavinder. Haley ranks second in the conference at 16.1 points per game, followed closely by her sister at 15.8 points per game, who is then followed closely by Maddi Utti at 15.7 points per game.
 
ON THE AIR
Doug Greenwald will have the call in Northern Nevada on CBS Sports Radio 94.1 FM and 1450 AM with a 20 minute pregame show prior to tipoff. Fans can also tune in to listen to Greenwald's broadcast online at TuneIn.com or via the TuneIn app.
 
The game will also be live streamed on the Mountain West Network.

SERIES HISTORY
Nevada and Fresno State have a long history between them. Saturday's contest will mark the 58th meeting between the two programs in history, one of the longest series for the Wolf Pack. It's been mostly all Bulldogs though in the all-time series as they've won 43 of the previous 57 matchups. As of late though it's been fairly even, with Nevada edging the Bulldogs 3-2 in the Amanda Levens era. Additionally the Pack is looking for its third consecutive win over Fresno State in Fresno.

FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT
The Wolf Pack is playing some of its best basketball as of late, having won four games in a row and five of its last six games. During this stretch of four consecutive wins, Nevada has knocked off the MW's No. 2 and 3 teams in San Jose State and UNLV. These wins have bumped the Wolf Pack from ninth to a tie for sixth in the league standings, just one game out of fifth behind UNLV. With three games remaining in the regular season, if Nevada can sneak into the fifth spot, or better, the team will earn a first round bye in the upcoming MW Tournament.

CAPTURE THE ESSENCE
Sophomore Essence Booker has been on fire in the last nine games. The Las Vegas native has scored in double figures in those nine and is averaging 14.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in that stretch. She was near perfect from the free throw line last time out, knocking down 10-of-12 in the win over New Mexico. Booker enters Saturday's game leading the team and ranking ninth in the Mountain West having hit 43 3-pointers this season. To put that in perspective, she only made 14 3-pointers in all of last season. Additionally Booker is closing in on 500 career points, needing just 13 more.

MAR OH MAR
Senior Marguerite Effa has really picked up her play as of late. The Los Angeles, Calif. native had the game of her career vs. SJSU. Effa totaled 31 points and 15 rebounds, both of which are career highs, to post her second double-double of the season. She was nearly unstoppable as she connected on 71.4 percent of her shots, hitting 15-of-21, setting career highs there too. Effa is just the sixth player in the Mountain West this season to score 30+ points in a single game. She is the only player to score 30+ points in a single game and record a double-double while doing so. Effa has now scored in double figures in nine of her last 12 games and eclipsed 400 points in her collegiate career last time out.

CAN YOU ASSIST ME?
The Wolf Pack has been one of the best teams in the Mountain West in terms of sharing the basketball. Heading into Saturday's game against Fresno State, Nevada ranks fifth in the conference in assists per game, averaging 14.69 per game. The Pack has dished out at least 10 assists in all but three of its 26 games, including two 20-assist games. Nevada is led in the assist department by one of its newcomers in junior Miki'ala Maio. Maio has been one of the top assist producers in the last three games, dishing out 10 in that span. The Wolf Pack has three players with at least 50 assists on the year, led by Maio's 62, then Jená Williams' 60 and Essence Booker's 59.

MILESTONE WATCH
Nevada has a few players who are approaching milestones, some of whom could hit those numbers Saturday afternoon at Fresno State.

• Jacqulynn Nakai - 22 points shy of 100
• Amaya West - 20 points shy of 200
• Essence Booker - 13 points shy of 500
• Nia Alexander - 31 points shy of 600

DON'T FORGET ABOUT IMANI
Sophomore Imani Lacy has quietly been one of the most consistent Wolf Pack players through 26 games this season. In the Pack's home game against Boise State, Lacy posted the second 20-point game of her career, and first this season, after scoring a game and career-high 28 points. Lacy was terrific in that game, hitting 8-of-14 from the field and 12-of-14 from the free throw line, both which were career highs. She has been especially impressive this season with her free throw shooting and shot blocking. Lacy currently ranks fifth in the conference in blocks per game at 1.32, and ranks sixth in the league in free throw shooting, hitting 69.0 percent.

UP NEXT: SENIOR NIGHT/REGULAR SEASON WRAP UP
The Wolf Pack will have just two games remaining in the regular season following Saturday's game at Fresno State. On Monday, the Wolf Pack will host the Cowgirls of Wyoming for a 6:30 p.m. contest at Lawlor Events Center. It will mark the Pack's final home game of the season and the team will honor its two seniors, Marguerite Effa and Sami Dinan, either before or after the game. Nevada will then travel to San Diego to wrap up the regular season at San Diego State next Thursday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m.