Rivalry setback: Nevada Women's basketball falls to UNLV on the road, 68-59

Nevada women's basketball fell to the UNLV Rebels Saturday afternoon in the Cox Pavillion, 68-59. Lexie Givens played in her 137th game for the Wolf Pack, setting a program record.

The Pack scored first and played a strong first half, trailing the Rebels by just one point at the break, 38-37. The Wolf Pack and Rebels remained neck and neck for the first 20 minutes of the contest, with the Rebels edging the Pack by just one percent in field goal percentage. Givens was a big contributor throughout the first half, with 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists.

The Wolf Pack has struggled with second-half scoring all season and couldn't overcome that challenge against UNLV, shooting just 25 percent from the field in the second half after hitting 47 percent in the first. Nevada also struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 21 percent on three-pointers in the second half after hitting 31 percent in the first. Nevada was consistent from the free-throw line, shooting 83 percent, which helped keep them in the game against the Rebels.

In addition to Givens 13 points, four other Wolf Pack players scored in the double digits: Olivia Poulivaati with 13, Dymonique Maxie with 11, and Tori Davis and Imbie Jones with 10. Nevada was aggressive on the boards with 31 rebounds, but UNLV out-rebounded them 47-31.

Nevada women's basketball falls to 9-14 overall and 4-6 in the Mountain West while UNLV improves to 17-5 overall and 9-1 in the Mountain West. The Wolf Pack will be back in action on Feb. 5 against the Boise State Broncos in Lawlor Events Center, which will be broadcast live on NSN.