by RENO, Nev. – With a program-record 4,801 enthused fans inside Lawlor Events Center for the annual “When I Grow Up” game, the Nevada women’s basketball team took down Holy Names by a score of 70-42 on Tuesday. Nevada’s well-rounded showing was highlighted by stellar performances on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, which allowed the team to match its season win total from last season.
The 42 points the Pack (5-5) allowed are the fewest points a team has scored on Nevada since Air Force recorded that same total on Feb. 25, 2015. Nevada also controlled the rebounding battle against the Hawks, winning that scuffle, 50-29. The Pack was led by sophomore AJ Cephas, who pulled down a career-high 14 boards, and also recorded her second career double-double with 11 points on the day.
Nevada began the game on a strong note, courtesy of junior Teige Zeller, who connected on back-to-back scores. The Pack then extended its lead even further after senior Stephanie Schmid and sophomore Riana Everidge knocked down back-to-back threes to give Nevada an early 10-0 lead, which forced Holy Names to call its first timeout of the game at the seven minute mark.
Holy Names did its best to stay in the game, responding with a 6-0 run of its own, but Everidge ended a 19-point opening period with a basket she hit at the buzzer. She finished the game with 18 points, hitting all four of her attempts from the free throw line. Nevada knocked down just under half of its shots, shooting 7-of-15, to take a 19-11 lead into the second quarter.
Much like the first stanza, Nevada continued to exploit the Hawks’ defense, opening the second period with a 10-0 run. The run began with junior Halie Bergman sinking the first of her two three-pointers of the game to give the Pack its first double-digit lead at 22-11.
However, the second quarter belonged to Nevada’s defense. The Pack’s effort on the defensive end of the court was out for showing throughout the entire period, as the team held the Hawks without a point for a seven minute period that dated back to the first quarter. By the end of the period, Nevada limited Holy Names to just eight points on 21 percent shooting, which helped give the Pack a 33-19 lead at halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, Nevada widened its lead past the 20-point mark behind a 55 percent shooting performance in the third quarter that gave the Pack a 50-30 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. At the 6:11 mark in the fourth period, junior Ashlee Jones dished out her fifth assist of the game, which tied her career high.
With 1:32 remaining in the game, freshman Sami Dinan, who entered the game for the first time this season, knocked down her first shot to give the Pack its largest lead of the game at 30 points. Holy Names followed with a basket of its own, giving Nevada the 70-42 victory.
MorningRose Tobey (Assiniboine Sioux) finished with 9 points for the Pack’ and Terae Briggs (Crow Tribe) had 6 points and 8 rebounds
The Pack will conclude its nonconference schedule on Sunday, Dec. 18 when the team takes on Hawai’i inside Lawlor Events Center. Tipoff for that matchup is slated for 2 p.m.
