SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- Western Kentucky used 52 percent second half shooting to overcome a double-digit deficit and defeat Nevada women's basketball 66-60 Wednesday at Missouri State's Great Southern Bank Arena. 

Fifth year guard Claire Jacobs led Nevada offensively with a team-high 16 points, her 81st career game in double figures.

Following a 3-pointer by WKU to open the first quarter, Nevada turned up the tempo and took control. A 3-pointer and basket jump by senior guard Gabby Giuffre started a 12-0 Nevada scoring run that allowed the Pack to move ahead by nine. 

WKU, however, closed the opening period with nine unanswered points to knot things up at 14. After the Lady Toppers delivered a run, Nevada returned it right back. 

A pair of 3-pointers and a free throw by Jacobs allowed Nevada to move ahead by seven, with a beyond the arc basket from junior guard Kaylee Borden putting the Pack in front by double digits. Nevada forced the Lady Toppers to miss both their shots on their final two possessions, getting the last bucket with 21 seconds left to close the first half ahead by 12. 

After WKU hit a 3-pointer to begin the third quarter, the Lady Toppers capitalized with 11 unanswered points to tie the game at 36. Nevada quickly relinquished the lead immediately after WKU's tying free throw, moving ahead 40-36 off a pair of baskets from Jacobs and sophomore forward Kennedy Lee. The Lady Toppers used a 3-pointer to trim Nevada's lead down to one point before Borden knocked down a jumper to give Nevada a three-point advantage heading into the final period. 

WKU used a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to take the early lead in the final period, but a pair of free throws from junior guard Audrey Roden tied the score back up at 48. Another pair of free throws and a 3-pointer allowed WKU to go back up by five before a jumper by freshman guard Rakiyah Jackson made it a one-possession game. 

The Lady Toppers used a free throw followed by a jump shot to retake a two-possession lead, using 60 percent fourth quarter shooting to maintain the lead through the final buzzer. 

Nevada wraps up non-conference play with the final round of the Lady Bear Classic Thursday at 12 p.m. against Big 12 foe BYU. 

Postgame Notes 

• This was Nevada and Western Kentucky's first meeting in women's basketball. 
• Fifth year guard Claire Jacobs led Nevada offensively with a team-high 16 points, her 81st career game in double figures. She has scored at least 10 points in five of Nevada's last six games. 
• Guards Audrey Roden, Victoria Davis, Kaylee Borden and forward Lexie Givens each recorded at least one steal. Davis (98), Roden (96), and Givens (94) are all less than 10 steals away from obtaining 100 career steals. 

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