USAFA, Colo. - Despite a strong fourth quarter from Nevada women's basketball, Air Force defeated the Pack 76-66 on Saturday at Clune Arena at the United States Air Force Academy. 

Thornton, Colorado, native Alyssa Jimenez led Nevada with 19 points while junior Victoria Davis scored 18 points. Sophomore Audrey Roden added 11 points and junior Lexie Givens grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds to go with a career-high three blocked shots. 

The Pack will be the No. 8 seed in the Mountain West Championships and will play at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. 

After scoring on its first possession, Nevada stretched its lead to five in the opening minutes following baskets from Jimenez and Davis. A pair of jumpers by Air Force cut Nevada's lead to one point, but sophomore Kaylee Borden answered back with a 3-pointer to give the Pack a four-point advantage. 

Air Force knotted the score with a jumper and a pair of free throws with 1:13 left in the first quarter, with Roden making a bucket on Nevada's next possession that swung the lead back towards the Pack. Following a fastbreak layup, Air Force made a basket with just six seconds left in the opening period to obtain its first lead of the game.

Nevada climbed back to tie it up 29-29 with under three minutes to play in the first half, but Air Force used an 8-0 scoring run to stretch the lead with 1:08 left. Davis missed a last chance 3-pointer, but junior guard Gabby Rones snatched the offensive rebound to put it back up and in before the first half horn. 

Air Force came out of the locker room to go ahead by 16 at the end of the third quarter, but Nevada refused to give up. The Pack opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 scoring run to cut Air Force's lead down to single digits, with a basket while drawing the foul by junior Tiffany Siu making it a seven-point game. Air Force, however, snapped out of its scoring drought and made its final four free throws to seal the victory. 

Nevada wraps up the regular season against No. 24 nationally ranked UNLV on Tuesday in round two of the Silver State Series at 6:30 p.m. at Lawlor Events Center.

Postgame Notes

• The loss makes Nevada the No. 8 seed in the Mountain West Championships. The Pack will play their first round game on Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m. PT at Thomas & Mack Center. 
• Junior forward Lexie Givens was just one rebound shy of a career-high. She grabbed a season-high 13 boards while collecting a career-high three blocks.
• Air Force picked up its first regular season win over Nevada since Dec. 7, 2019. 

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS
Nevada women's basketball will be one of 11 teams competing for the Mountain West's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. First round action for the women's tournament begins March 5 and the championship game takes place on March 8. Nevada will play its first game on Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. 

All-session, general-admission passes to the women's tournament (10 games) are available starting at just $80 and can be purchased HERE. Single-session tickets start at just $25 and can be purchased HERE. Seat location will be determined closer to the tournament, and will be based on Blue Points within Nevada's Priority Point System. 

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