Women's Basketball: Nevada tops Columbia

RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada women's basketball team advanced to the Nugget Classic title game for the third consecutive year after a 64-47 win over Columbia Friday afternoon at Lawlor Events Center in front of 736 fans.

Shavon Moore recorded a double-double and scored a career-high 18 points and added 13 rebounds while Nicole Williams added a career-high 14 points as Nevada improved to 4-1. Columbia fell to 3-2.

The Lions jumped out to a 10-4 lead with 16:16 remaining in the half before the Pack took its first lead of the game, 17-16, on a pair of free throws from Marianne Lombardi with 11:45 left in the half.

The Pack extended its lead to six, 28-22, on a three pointer by Johnna Ward with 6:11 left in the half. Nevada pushed its lead to nine, 32-23, on a pair of free throws from Amanda Johnson before the Pack took a six-point lead at the half, 32-36.

In the second half, Nevada extended its lead to 14 points, 49-35, on a three pointer by Johnson. A jumper by Moore with 5:55 left in the game gave Nevada a 58-40 lead before the Pack went on to record the 64-47 win.

For the game, Nevada shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the floor and 78.9 percent (15-of-19) from the free throw line. Columbia shot 32.0 percent (16-of-50) from the floor. Nevada outrebounded Columbia 41-to-33 in the game.

Nevada will play West Virginia tomorrow at 7 p.m. for the Nugget Classic title. West Virginia beat Iowa 69-66 in the late game on Friday night. Iowa will face Columbia tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the third place game.