LAS VEGAS - Nevada women's basketball came up short to UNLV 80-57 on Saturday at Cox Pavilion in the first game of the Silver State Series of 2023. 

Freshman forward Kennedy Lee, who made her return to Las Vegas after playing at Centennial High School last year, led Nevada with 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting. Graduate student forward Megan Ormiston added 11 points while junior forward Lexie Givens collected nine points with nine rebounds. 

UNLV's Desi-Rae Young (23 points and 12 rebounds) and Alyssa Brown (10 points and 12 rebounds) led the Lady Rebels with double-doubles. 

Ormiston helped the Pack get off to a fast start in the first quarter, scoring eight of Nevada's first 10 points that gave the Pack a seven-point advantage. Following a 3-pointer, second chance basket and a free throw, UNLV cut Nevada's lead to one point halfway through the opening period. 

Lee, who guided Centennial to an 18-4 mark and to the NIAA 5A state title, drained a basket that stretched the Pack's lead to two possessions.

After Young scored with just over one minute to play in the first quarter and knocked in a free throw, UNLV drilled a 3-pointer to take an 18-16 lead after the first 10 minutes. UNLV then used 52.9 percent second quarter shooting to go up by double-digits heading into the locker room. 

The Pack cut the deficit to single digits with 7:27 left in the third quarter, but UNLV scored on its final four possessions of the period to move ahead by 20 heading into the final 10 minutes. The Lady Rebels used 45.5 percent fourth quarter shooting to secure the win in front of their first sellout crowd at Cox Pavilion. 

Nevada returns home to Lawlor Events Center on Thursday to face Boise State at 6:30 p.m. in Black History Night.

Postgame Notes

• Freshman forward Kennedy Lee led Nevada with 13 points off the bench, her best scoring performance in a conference game. 
• Junior forward Lexie Givens has made at least one 3-pointer in six consecutive game. 
• Sophomore guard Audrey Roden reached 499 career points, needing just one more to become the third Nevada sophomore under head coach Amanda Levens to reach 500 points. 
• The Nevada-UNLV game on Saturday was the first sellout crowd of 2,500 fans at Cox Pavilion. 

SEASON TICKETS AND MINI PLANS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Season tickets for Nevada women's basketball start at just $65. Season tickets for youth (8th grade and under) start at just $25 while the Family Four Pack (two adults, two youth) are $37.50 per person. Students receive free admission with their Wolf Card.

Nevada is offering two plans that are flexible for fans to choose the games they want to attend. Each plan will provide fans the ability to guarantee tickets inside Lawlor Events Center for marquee games.

All weekend games not a part of the Feb. 11 game against New Mexico will be followed by a free post-game clinic for eighth grade and under students.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. 

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