RENO, Nev. - Nevada women's basketball's fifth year guard
Claire Jacobs forced overtime with a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer, but UC Santa Barbara finished the game on a 9-2 scoring run to defeat the Pack 73-66 Saturday afternoon at Lawlor Events Center.
Jacobs, who hit her second game-tying or game-winning shot at Nevada, matched a season-high 18 points. Junior guard Audrey Roden finished with 18 points and three assists while freshman guard Izzy Sullivan dropped a career-high 16 points, draining all three of her 3-point attempts.
UC Santa Barbara came out firing on all cylinders to start the first quarter, going on a 9-0 scoring run and forcing Nevada to call a timeout. UCSB continued to stay in front through the opening quarter and remained ahead by nine following the first 10 minutes.
The Pack answered the bell in the second quarter, with jumpers by Roden and Jacobs trimming UCSB's lead to one possession. After sophomore forward Kennedy Lee hit a jumper, Roden capitalized off a steal and knocked in a layup to give Nevada its first lead of the game.
Jacobs converted a layup off the fastbreak off the assist from Roden, who later knocked down another bucket to cap off a 12-0 Nevada scoring run. UCSB, however, scored 13 unanswered points to end the first half and retake the lead going into the locker room.
Trading baskets in the third quarter, Jacobs once again executed a fastbreak and knocked in a jumper to make it a one-point game going into the final 10 minutes. A layup by freshman Dymonique Maxie and a 3-pointer by Sullivan allowed Nevada to take a 54-51 lead to start the fourth quarter, with a layup by Jacobs making it a two-possession game.
UCSB hit back-to-back shots to cut the Nevada lead down to one, but Sullivan's third 3-pointer of the game made it a 61-57 advantage for the Pack with just over three minutes to play. The Gauchos used a pair of free throws and another basket to tie it up with one minute left in regulation, hitting a pair of free throws to retake the lead with 18 seconds left to play. After drawing a charging foul, UCSB hit another free throw that made it a 64-61 lead with just 1.3 seconds left to play.
Just like her first clutch shot that took place a week ago against Central Arkansas, Jacobs was ready for the moment.
Jacobs took advantage of a wide open shot from NBA 3-point range and saw nothing but net to send the Pack into overtime. UCSB took control in overtime, finishing the final five minutes on a 9-2 scoring run to take the game.
Nevada goes on the road for a two-game swing starting Wednesday at Weber State at 5 p.m.
Postgame Notes
- Fifth year guard Claire Jacobs hit the game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime. This was her second game-tying or game-winning shot at Nevada, hitting the go-ahead layup last week against Central Arkansas to give the Pack a 67-65 win. She matched a season-high 18 points.
- Junior guard Audrey Roden hit her first seven shots and finished with 18 points. She averaged 20 points per game this week.
- Freshman guard Izzy Sullivan came up with a career-high 16 points, draining all three of her attempts from beyond the arc.
- Nevada had a season-high 15 assists, with seven different players recording at least one assist.
- Senior forward Lexie Givens recorded three blocks, her fourth game this season with two or more blocks. She has recorded a block in all but one game this season.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets 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. Season Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 775-348-PACK.
Click here to purchase mini plans (any five games starting at just $25) and single game tickets (starting at $5 for youth and $7 for adults).
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