BOX SCORE
BOULDER, Colo. The University of Nevada women’s basketball team lost to Wyoming 80-71 Saturday night in the Coors Classic hosted by the University of Colorado. The loss drops Nevada to 3-2 on the season while Wyoming improves to 5-1.
Wyoming went up by 11 less than a minute into the second half but a 9-0 Nevada run, including a block by Cherlanda Franklin, cut the Cowgirl’s lead to 40-38. A three pointer by Traci Graham at 12:20 gave Nevada a one point lead-its first lead since Nevada led 4-3 in the first half.
The Pack built a three-point lead with 11:32 remaining in the game on a runner by Brandi Fitzgerald. The Cowgirls retook the lead after Jodi Bolerjack hit a three but the Pack evened the game at 56-56 on a three-point play by Graham with 8:14 remaining.
The middle of the second half was kept close as neither team led by more than four. With the game tied at 59, Wyoming went on a 10-1 run to take a 69-60 lead with 2:33 left as the Cowgirls hung on to claim the nine point win.
Both Nevada (26-of-61) and Wyoming (21-of-49) shot 42% for the game, while the Cowgirls out rebounded Nevada by two, 36-34. Hanna Zavecz scored a game-high 23 points including 15 from the free throw line. Dellena Criner and Traci Graham each scored 15 points for the Pack, while Jessica Preslar scored 10 and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Graham was also named to the all-tournament team.
Wyoming built an eight point lead midway through the first half before Nevada pulled to within three, 16-13, on Preslar’s three pointer and a layup by Fitzgerald. The Cowgirls twice built a double-digit lead late in the first half and took a 38-29 lead into the locker room.
Nevada shot 42% (11-of-26) from the field in the first half and was 3-of-6 from three-point range, with Preslar knocking down two three’s for the Pack. Wyoming shot 51% for the half while the Cowgirls pulled down 15 rebounds compared to the Wolf Pack’s 14.
Nevada will face Auburn and UC Riverside when the Pack hosts the Nugget Classic Dec. 1-3 at Lawlor Events Center. Nevada will take on Auburn on Friday at 7 p.m. and will face UC Riverside Sunday at 3 p.m. Auburn and UC Riverside will play each other on Saturday at 5 p.m.
