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Drake women withstand Nevada’s comeback in Nugget Classic opener

Maggie Bair

RENO, Nev. — The Drake women’s basketball team raced out to a quick lead over host Nevada and used its fast start as the foundation for a 77-75 win in the opening game of the Nugget Classic.

The Bulldogs (2-2) broke out to a 28-19 lead after the opening quarter thanks to a double-digit performance from Maggie Bair. The junior forward scored 11 of her team-leading 17 points in the first period as Drake shot 9-of-11 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

Drake clinged to the lead, 43-36, at halftime, and still held a 62-56 advantage after three quarters. Nevada (1-3) continued to close the gap but couldn’t overtake the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs led by 11, 71-60, with 5:05 remaining before the host Wolf Pack started their comeback march. Nevada got the deficit down to just one, 76-75, after a 3-pointer by Kylie Jimenez with 21 seconds remaining.

Drake freshman guard Katie Dinnebier got one of her two free throws to go down with 17 seconds left, and Nevada’s Audrey Roden missed a 3-point attempt with time winding down. The Wolf Pack got the offensive carom but didn’t get another shot off.

Bair finished with team-highs of 17 points and nine rebounds, and Dinnebier had 16 points. Megan Meyer, a transfer from the University of Iowa, added 13 points.

Jimenez led Nevada with 18 points, Roden got 16 points off the bench, and Da’Ja Hamilton added 11 points in the loss.

Drake takes on San Francisco on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Reno.

Drake 77, Nevada 75

DRAKE (2-2) — Bair 8-12 0-2 17, Dinnebier 5-7 3-4 16, Meyer 4-6 3-5 13, Petersen 2-4 3-4 7, Berg 1-3 5-6 7, Miller 4-6 0-0 8, Fuller 2-4 0-0 5, Becker 0-2 2-2 2, Wooldridge 1-1 0-0 2, Gueldner 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS 27-46 16-23 77.

NEVADA (1-3) — Kylie Jimenez 7-10 0-0 18, Hamilton 5-17 0-0 11, Alyssa Jimenez 3-7 0-0 8, Ormiston 2-4 2-2 6, Alexander 2-11 0-0 4, Roden 7-15 1-1 16, Givens 3-5 0-0 6, West 2-4 0-0 4, Holt 0-0 2-2 2, Lathrop 0-0 0-0 0, Borden 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 31-73 5-5 75.

DRAKE 28 15 19 15 — 77

NEVADA 19 17 20 19 — 75

3-Point Goals–Drake 7-17 (Dinnebier 3-5, Meyer 2-4, Bair 1-2, Fuller 1-3, Petersen 0-1, Berg 0-1, Gueldner 0-1), Nevada 8-23 (K.Jimenez 4-5, A.Jimenez 2-5, Hamilton 1-4, Roden 1-6, Alexander 0-1, Givens 0-1, West 0-1). Rebounds–Drake 35 (Bair 7), Nevada 27 (Alexander 6). Assists–Drake 16 (Petersen, Fuller 3), Nevada 9 (three with 2). Total Fouls–Drake 12, Nevada 22. Fouled Out–none. A–753.

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