Montana pulled away late as the University of Nevada women’s basketball team fell to Montana, 59-51, at the Lady Griz Holiday Classic. With the loss, Nevada fell to 6-7 while Montana improved to 11-3.

Montana opened the game on a 6-0 run before Brandi Jones’ three cut the Lady Griz’s lead to 6-3 with nearly four minutes gone in the first half. Cherlanda Franklin’s jumper with 8:50 left tied the game at 10-10.

Montana went up by three, 15-12, before Johnna Ward hit a three to tie the game. Franklin’s jumper gave Nevada its first lead of the game, 17-15, with 6:07 remaining. The Pack extended its lead to 25-19 in the first half before taking a 25-24 lead at the half.

Ward led the Pack at the half with six points as seven players scored for Nevada in the first half. Hammond and Moore each recorded a team-high four rebounds in the first half.

The Pack shot 29.0 percent (9-of-31) from the floor in the first half and 37.5 percent (5-of-14) from three-point range. The Lady Griz shot 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from the floor.

Nevada went up by four, 32-28, on a Criner jumper with 15:15 remaining before Montana went on a 5-0 run to take a 33-23 lead with 14:07 left. Montana used a 13-2 run to go ahead 48-40 with 5:55 left.

Nevada pulled to within four, 53-49, on Jones’ free throw with 2:40 remaining but Montana used solid free throw shooting down the stretch to post the 59-51 win.

Criner led Nevada with 13 points while Franklin added 10. Moore and Jones each grabbed a team-high six rebounds. The Pack finished the game shooting 33.9 percent (19-of-56) from the floor while the Lady Griz shot 40.4 percent (19-of-47).

Nevada will open WAC play at home hosting La Tech on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 7 p.m. and New Mexico State on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 2 p.m.

Lady Griz All-Tournament Team

Mandy Morales, Montana (MVP)
Sonya Rogers, Montana
Brittany Lohman, Montana
Dellena Criner, Nevada
Chinyere Ukoh, Hampton
Whitney Hill, Hampton