by BOISE, Idaho – Looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this season, the Nevada women’s basketball fell to Boise State, 66-58, Wednesday evening from Taco Bell Arena.
Senior Nyasha LeSure had herself a game, notching the fourth double-double of her career with 21 points and 10 rebounds. It marks LeSure’s third game this season with 20 or more points. With 1:13 to play in the second quarter, LeSure’s eighth point of the game also led to the 700th point of her Wolf Pack career. Freshman MorningRose Tobey (Assiniboine Sioux) also reached double figures, posting a career-best 10 points.
It was an entertaining first half as both quarters finished with 21-9 scores, the two teams flip flopping the owner of the 21 points. The first quarter belonged to the Broncos (9-6, 2-2 MW). Down 21-9 to start the second, Nevada (2-14, 1-4 MW) began the period with nine consecutive points, capped off by a three-pointer by freshman MorningRose Tobey.
After Boise State began to stretch the lead back out, the Pack turned it up a notch in the last three minutes of the second. Nevada produced the quarter’s last 10 points and hit four of its last four shot attempts. The team’s defense held Boise State to just 2-of-11 shooting down the stretch. After shooting just 15 percent (3-of-19) in the first, Nevada bumped it up to 53 percent (10-of-19) in the second.
After battling to just a two-point differential in the third that favored the home team, Boise State got a hot start to the fourth. The Broncos held the Pack to just three points through the first four minutes of the fourth and went on a 10-0 run that ate up over three minutes off the clock, extending their lead to 52-43. Nevada was able to get within six points a few more times throughout the remainder of the game but could not inch any closer.
For the game the Wolf Pack shot better on offense than its opponent, hitting 35.8 percent (24-of-67). Nevada also won the battle on the boards, 43-41, and the battle in the paint, 34-24. The Pack’s bench shined Wednesday night, posting 21 points to Boise State’s benches five points. The difference maker for the night was free throws. The Broncos were sent to the line 17 times, making 15 of those, while the Pack hit just 6-of-10.
Nevada’s first bye of the conference season is upcoming this weekend and the Wolf Pack will return to the court next Wednesday, Jan. 20 with a 6:30 p.m. home contest against Wyoming.
