OREM, Utah – The University of Nevada outlasted Utah Valley University, 60-57, on Saturday afternoon the UCCU Center. The Wolverines trailed by 10 entering the fourth quarter but their comeback attempt was thwarted by the Wolf Pack.
 
Jordan Holland had 13 points, Megan Jensen added a career-high 12 and Maria Carvalho matched her career high with nine assists for UVU (0-3). Essence Booker had 16 points and Dom Phillips chipped in 14 for Nevada (3-0).
 
"We gave ourselves a chance today, but we just have to keep growing. I hate losing but we did see some positive steps," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "We showed we can compete, that's a quality team from the Mountain West. The goal for us is to be competitive and have a chance to win in the WAC and I do think we took a good step today."
 
The Wolverines had a chance to tie the game on the final possession but couldn't get off a good look from three. UVU trailed 48-38 entering the final quarter but climbed back into behind a 9-0 run to get within one, 50-49, midway through the fourth.
 
Carvalho got a steal that started a Wolverine fast break that ended in an Braslis layup on an Cortez assist. Carvalho later hauled in a defensive rebound and found Cortez, who got behind the defense for an easy two. Another Carvalho pass led to another transition bucket off of a miss on the other end. Cortez got a rebound and found Carvalho, who threaded a pass to a streaking Braslis to get the Wolverines within a point with 5:56 to go.
 
Both teams came up empty on the over two minutes before Alyssa Jimenez hit a three and was fouled for a four-point-play that put Nevada up 54-49. Jensen and Holland both scored to again get UVU within one, 54-53, before the teams traded a pair of buckets in the final two minutes of action. After Maio scored for the Wolf Pack, Carvalho hit a jumper and then answered an Imani Lacy layup with another jumper just inside the 3-point line with 27 seconds left.
 
Booker hit a pair of free throws with 17 seconds on the clock to push the Nevada lead the three. The Wolf Pack clamped down defensively on the final possession and held on the for the narrow win to stay perfect on the young season.
 
Utah Valley was 25-for-54 (46.3%) from the field while Nevada hit 39.7% (23-for-58). The Wolf Pack had a 37-31 edge on the glass that included 14 offensive rebounds that led to 12 second-chance points. UVU had 10 second-chance points on nine offensive rebounds.
 
The Wolverines jumped in front 7-1 to start the contest with Holland scoring the first give of the game for UVU. Utah Valley stretched it to 10, 15-5 by the end of the first with Jensen and Josie Williams both adding a pair of buckets. Booker helped the Wolf Pack trim into that deficit quickly, scoring eight points -- including a pair of 3-pointers -- on a 10-2 run to start the second. The Wolverines led by two late in the half when a Jensen layup gave Utah Valley a 27-23 lead at the break.
 
The game was tied at 27 before consecutive buckets from Cortez and Williams gave Utah Valley a 31-27 advantage. From there, Nevada went on run to seize control of the game. Miki'ala Maio hit a 3-pointer to start a run of 13 straight points for the Wolf Pack. Jensen stopped the run with a layup but Nevada scored the next six points to take a 46-33 lead and extend the run to 19-2. A Holland three and a Cortez jumper in the final minute helped UVU trim it to 10 after three.
 
Utah Valley will begin a two-game road swing next Thursday, Nov. 21 at UC Riverside in an 8:30 p.m. MT tip. The Wolverines will also play at Boise State on Tuesday, Nov. 26.