by by Katie Rihn, Nevada
RENO, Nev. – Behind a very strong offensive night, the Nevada women’s basketball team rolled to a 102-56 exhibition win Wednesday night over William Jessup.
The Warriors scored the first bucket of the game, but from there it was all Wolf Pack. In total, Nevada shot 55.3 percent from the field and above 50 percent from behind the 3-point line as well. The Pack connected on eight 3-pointers in the game, getting two apiece from Essence Booker, Jacqulynn Nakai (Navajo) and Dom Phillips.
Nevada did not have a quarter where it shot under 50 percent and posted at least 21 points per 10-minute frame, with a game-high 29 points in the first quarter. Along with its solid offensive evening, the Pack was strong defensively as well as it held the Warriors to just 35.7 percent shooting for the game. Nevada totaled 20 steals, outrebounded WJU 43-31 and allowed just one made 3-pointer.
Newcomer Marguerite Effa, a graduate transfer from USC, led the team with 20 points as she connected on 9-of-11 from the field and added five rebounds. All together the Wolf Pack had four reach points in double figures. Booker was perfect to start the game, hitting her first five shots without a miss. She finished with 16 points, which would be a career high in the regular season, and dished out five assists. Nevada also got double digit performances from newcomers Nia Alexander and Phillips, who finished with 12 points and 10 points, respectively. Freshman Jená Williams also played well in her first taste of collegiate basketball, dishing out a game-high eight assists.
All 13 players who saw significant minutes in the game scored at least two points, displaying the depth that head coach Amanda Levens has to work with this season.
