FRESNO, Calif. – In game one of a two-game series against the defending Mountain West regular season champions, the Nevada women's basketball team dropped a 78-70 contest to Fresno State Thursday night.
 
It was a comeback bid that simply ran out of time for the Wolf Pack (5-5, 1-4 MW), which found itself closing the gap late in the fourth quarter. What was a four-point lead at halftime for the Bulldogs (5-5, 3-2 MW), ballooned into a 19-point advantage just over two minutes into the start of the fourth quarter. From there Nevada went to work trying to erase a 19-point deficit, and made its first cut into that deficit at the 6:35 mark after a jumper by sophomore Leta Otuafi.
 
Needing a spark to try and overcome such a large deficit with time winding down, the Pack got just that on the game's next possession. Senior Nia Alexander got a timely steal and turned that into a quick two for Nevada on the other end, bringing the lead down to 15 points. Nevada turned that 15 into a 12 on an and-one opportunity for senior LaPraisjah Johnson with just over five to play. The Wolf Pack defense continued to hold the Bulldogs in check on offense, getting another steal from Alexander on Fresno State's next possession, and finishing with a layup.
 
Fresno State was able to snap its offensive drought to bump the lead back up, but with a 3-point jumper from junior Da'Ja Hamilton with 2:45 remaining, the Pack closed the gap to single digits and eight points. Hamilton again provided the Pack with two points to bring the deficit to seven, and LaPraisjah Johnson made it a five-point game after two free throws with 37 seconds to play. Fresno State though knocked down its free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
 
Alexander posted a solid game, tying her Nevada career-high of 18 points and added nine rebounds to finish one rebound shy of her second career double-double. Hamilton contributed 17 points after shooting 50 percent from the field, Johnson scored 13 points and junior Amaya West added 11. West and Johnson also grabbed six rebounds apiece. West also finished with a career-high three blocked shots.
 
Nevada will wrap up its two-game series at Fresno State this Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. from the Save Mart Center.