LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In game one of a two-game series at UNLV, the Nevada women's basketball team dropped a close 62-57 decision to the Lady Rebels Saturday evening.
 
UNLV (8-6, 6-3 MW) jumped on offense immediately as the game got underway, scoring the game's first 11 points before a 3-pointer from freshman Kenna Holt got the Wolf Pack (7-7, 3-6 MW) on the board. The Lady Rebels answered with a bucket on the other end, pushing their lead to 10 as the game reached its first media timeout. That timeout was a welcomed recharge for Nevada as it went on an 11-0 run to pull itself back into the game and take the lead for the first time.
 
Once the Wolf Pack climbed back into contention, the rest of the game remained tight. Neither team led by more than six points in the second quarter but that period was all about runs as Nevada owned the first part and the Lady Rebels finished the quarter on an 8-0 run and held the Pack scoreless for the last 4:24 to take a two-point lead into halftime.
 
Coming out of halftime the Lady Rebels posted a similar start to the first quarter and built up an 8-point lead just two minutes in. Nevada however quickly turned the tide just a minute later and brought the deficit down to two after an and-one by senior LaPraisjah Johnson. UNLV used 50 percent shooting down the stretch of the third quarter though to bounce back and push its lead to five heading into the fourth. The Wolf Pack got within three points in the final quarter, but could not find a way to break through and regain the lead, being held to under 30 percent on offense in that period.
 
Nevada was led by junior Da'Ja Hamilton who posted a 19-point performance, including three made triples. The Wolf Pack overall recorded its best 3-point shooting game of the season as it knocked down a season-high nine from beyond the arc, led by three each from Hamilton and freshman Lexie Givens.
 
Nevada will conclude its two-game series at UNLV this Monday at 1 p.m. from Cox Pavilion.