Nevada women break losing streak

RENO -- For Ted and Linda Bastian, it was a change of scenery. For their daughter, Ashley, it had to be the shoes.

The Bastians were looking for a good omen anywhere they could find it and they found two as the University of Nevada womens' basketball team broke an 11-game losing streak by beating UTEP 75-58 on Saturday at Lawlor Events Center.

The Bastians drive more than six hours from Porterville, Calif. to every home game to watch their daughter play and they always sit in the same location. But on Saturday, their usual seats weren't available, so they sat somewhere else.

Before the game they said the new location could be a good omen and it's likely that they won't be moving any time soon.

Meanwhile, Bastian and Laura Ingham discarded the pair of shoes they received after Christmas and wore the pair of shoes they were wearing when Nevada was on a five-game winning streak earlier this season.

"Me and Laura put our winning shoes back on," Bastian said. "When we went on the winning streak, it was these shoes."

The shoes must have worked as four Nevada players scored in double figures. Bastian scored all 18 of her points on six three-pointers, Kate Smith scored 18 points, Ingham had 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and April Bankston added 12 points.

Counting the 11 rebounds that Amber Young had, Nevada's entire starting lineup was in double figures.

Bastian hit a three to give the Wolf Pack (8-13, 1-10 in the Western Athletic Conference) a 3-0 lead to begin the game and that seemed to be another good omen.

"I think that really inspired the team," Nevada coach Ada Gee said. "Ashley's a great shooter."

Bastian hit four treys, including one from NBA-range, to help Nevada build a 23-17 lead. The Wolf Pack led 34-26 before the pattern that has been happening all year long appeared to be happening again.

UTEP came back to tie the game 34-34 early in the second half. But unlike what has happened so often in the past this season, Nevada didn't wilt and responded with a 10-0 run to take a 54-44 lead.

Every time the Miners tried to come back, Nevada had an answer, with Bastian providing the dagger, hitting her sixth three to give the Wolf Pack a 74-58 lead.

Saturday's game was redemption for Bastian, who went 1-for-10 from three-point range and 2-for-12 in a 68-63 loss to Boise State on Thursday.

"I had to make up for the other night," Bastian said. "That was horrible. I had to do something to get back on track."

Unlike what has happened in past games, including Thursday when Nevada lost a lead against the Broncos, the Wolf Pack stayed relaxed, Bastian said.

"We kind of tensed up because it's been happening over and over again," said Bastian about Thursday.

"I felt like we didn't tense up when they made their little run," Bastian also said about UTEP.

Smith had another take on why Nevada didn't fold this time. "I think there was a lot of people getting it done," she said.

Gee said her team has had a tendency to try to hard when it had a lead in the past.

"I think we got tense and we got tentative," Gee said. "That's not acceptable, but it is understandable.

"I'm just really proud of our team's effort. We established a lead and we were able to maintain it."

Nevada had a 36-26 advantage on the boards, thanks in large part to Young. "Amber did a great job on the boards for us," Bastian said.