The Nevada women’s basketball team hosted the Sacramento State Hornets in their home opener, losing 70-60 on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Lawlor Events Center.
Sacramento State started the scoring with 4 points by junior guard Koko Akridge, but Nevada senior guard Mahaila Harrison responded quickly with the Wolf Pack’s first points.
The Hornets offense then took over, going on an 8-point scoring run led by senior guard Natalie Picton. However, Harrison and freshman guard Delaney Arredondo connected on back-to-back 3-pointers, cutting the lead to 15-8.
Both teams traded baskets, but Akridge made her first 3-pointer to extend the Hornets’ lead back to ten.
Wolf Pack senior guard Izzy Sullivan made a three, followed by a layup from sophomore guard Hanna Jollinder, which cut the lead to 22-17, Hornets.
Then, the Hornets were able to bounce back via a three from sophomore forward Alexis Hess and a three from Picton.
The Pack’s Harrison converted an and-one opportunity to put the game back in reach, but then the electric Sac State offense came alive once again.
Picton scored four, followed by a basket from junior forward Jenessa Cotton, a three from sophomore guard Jelena Savic and three free throws, making for a 12-0 Hornets run and an 18-point lead.
Sullivan cut the lead to 41-25, but Savic and junior center Ajong Lual combined for 3 points to give Sac State their biggest lead of the night, at 19.
With 41 seconds in the half, junior guard Aili Tanke made a jumper from inside the paint, making the score 44-27 Sac State at halftime. Picton led Sac State with 12 points, while Harrison had eight for Nevada.
Tanke and Akridge traded threes at the start of the half, before Picton drove to the basket to make the score 52-34.
Nevada junior guard Sierra Chambers hit a three, then sophomore forward Alexis Swillis laid one in to cut the lead to 54-39.
However, Sac State center Achol Magot was able to capitalize on sloppy Nevada possessions, scoring back-to-back layups off of turnovers.
Both teams split the scoring heading into the fourth quarter, but Nevada senior forward Olivia Poulivaati made a layup, trim the deficit to 17.
Swillis made a layup off a turnover, consequently cutting the lead to 64-50. Harrison scored again for Nevada, but Akridge responded with a three of her own, putting Sac State back up by 14.
After Swillis converted an and-one and Harrison took advantage of poor 3-point shooting by the Hornets, Sac State’s lead was cut to single digits with less than two minutes left.
The Wolf Pack were able to get another defensive stop, and a foul put Tanke at the free-throw line. Tanke made both free throws, which cut the lead to seven with less than a minute to go.
Picton closed the game out from the free-throw line for Sac State, making for the final score of 70-60.
Akridge and Picton combined 40 of Sac State’s 70 points, while Harrison led the way for the Wolf Pack with 16 of her own.
The Pack will host Jessup University on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m.
