by RENO, Nev. – Behind balanced scoring up and down the lineup, the Nevada women’s basketball team cruised to an 80-60 win over Chicago State in the first game of the 2019 Nugget Classic.
The Wolf Pack (4-1) had 12 players score at least three points in the game and saw three players reach points in double figures. Senior Marguerite Effa chipped in 11 points, along with sophomore Da’Ja Hamilton, and junior Nia Alexander added 10 points on the afternoon. The Pack also had two players, junior Jacqulynn Nakai (Navajo) and sophomore Amaya West, who fell just one point shy of reaching points in double figures.
Nevada led from start to finish and had a dominant opening quarter, which helped create distance between it and the Cougars (0-7) as the game progressed. Chicago State played the Wolf Pack tight in quarters two through four, but outscoring the Cougars 27-9 in the first frame aided in keeping a safe lead throughout the contest.
The Wolf Pack had its best offensive showing in the first quarter, shooting 52.9 percent from the field en route to scoring 27 points. Defensively Nevada allowed the opposition to connect on just 30 percent of its shots.
All together in the game, the Wolf Pack forced a season-high 29 turnovers that led to 28 points off of those turnovers. Nevada also dominated on the glass, collecting 44 rebounds to Chicago State’s 32. The Pack was led on the boards by Alexander, who totaled eight, finishing just two rebounds shy of posting her first double-double of the season.
Nevada will face Stephen F. Austin in the championship game of the 2019 Nugget Classic this Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.
