The Nevada women’s basketball team (1-2) found their first win of the season against the Jessup University Warriors (0-2), 84-51, at Lawlor Event Center on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Nevada started the game on offense, but lost the advantage quickly after a turnover just 12 seconds into the game. After a bad pass turned it back to Nevada, two layups were scored by fifth-year forward Amelia Raidaveta and junior guard Aili Tanke.
Jessup senior forward Keyla Cervantes caught a personal foul that allowed senior forward Olivia Poulivaati a free throw chance, in which she scored one of two. The Warriors scored their first points of the game 33 seconds later with a layup from Cervantes, but the Wolf Pack quickly answered with another layup.
Nevada scored the first 3-pointer of the night from senior guard Izzy Sullivan before she fouled to bring Jessup to the free-throw line.
A string of fouls followed, including a call that was challenged but ultimately remained after the ball was thrown out of bounds. After the challenge, a fast play from Nevada allowed Puloka to score another 3-pointer. Jessup missed a last-second layup, giving Nevada the lead 23-4 going into the second quarter.
Jessup started the second quarter with the ball, but after a few turnovers, Nevada was able to score four from junior guard Sierra Chambers and senior guard Mahaila Harrison.
Junior guard Erin Choi then scored two more for the Warriors before the Wolf Pack took the ball back and scored four again, this time from Raidaveta and Poulivaati.
Sophomore forward Mirella Boshell-Fernandes was fouled, but a bad pass turned the ball back over to the Warriors. A foul on Chambers allowed for a free throw opportunity from Jessup, of which they scored one of two. Nevada then scored after the rebound before senior forward Imbie Jones picked up a personal foul, allowing for another chance from Jessup that they scored two of two on.
Back-and-forth play continued until Nevada had a breakaway opportunity from Chambers. Although she missed, freshman guard Addison Leomiti was fouled and Chambers was able to score two of two on a free throw opportunity.
Both teams headed into the locker room with Nevada in a 41-24 lead.
The third quarter started quickly for both teams, with a flurry of missed shots, rebounds and turnovers. The first point of the half took a minute and 13 seconds to score, when sophomore forward Porter Wood scored both points during a free throw.
Nevada rebounded with 6 points, and after some back-and-forth play, a bad pass from Jessup and a steal from Sullivan allowed Chambers to score. Jessup brought it back with a layup from Cervantes. A rebound of a missed 3-pointer gave Nevada their own 3-point opportunity, scored by Chambers.
The Wolf Pack eventually made their way back to their side of the court, scoring a layup from junior forward Kendra Hicks before an outburst of fouls from both sides.
Nevada called their second timeout of the game with 4:58 left in the fourth quarter, leading 76-46, and after 30 seconds and a layup from Nevada, Jessup called their third.
After a personal foul was called on Nohr, fouling her out, freshman guard Delaney Arredondo missed both free throw opportunities. She then made one-of-two just 14 seconds later, after a foul from Leomiti.
Jessup made their first and only 3-pointer of the night from Leomiti before a forced turnover from Nevada allowed Arrendondo to respond with a 3-point shot of her own.
With less than 30 seconds remaining in the game, freshman guard Dyllyn Howell picked up a personal foul, allowing Jessup to score on free throws. Nevada then killed the clock, completing the game with an 84-51 victory.
Chambers stood out as the star of the game, scoring 22 points on the night and was three-for-four on 3-point attempts. Nevada scored seven-of-15 (46.67%) 3-point attempts, compared to Jessup’s one-of-17 (5.88%). Nevada also led Jessup in field goals and free throws.
The Wolf Pack will travel to Utah next for their matchup against Utah Valley University on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.
