Broncos Go For Season Sweep Against Nevada

Boise State (16-3, 6-1 MW) vs. Nevada (7-12, 3-5 MW)
Saturday, Feb. 2 • 2 p.m. MT
Boise, Idaho • Taco Bell Arena
Series: Boise State leads, 40-17
Last Meeting: Boise State 75, Nevada 74 - Reno, Nev.
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BOISE, Idaho - Boise State closes out a week-long homestand Saturday, hosting Nevada at 2 p.m. with a chance to sweep the regular-season series against the Wolf Pack.

LAST TIME OUT
Boise State bounced back from its first Mountain West loss of the season, defeating Colorado State, 70-57, Wednesday night at Taco Bell Arena.

Junior guard Riley Lupfer led the way with a game-high 22 points, hitting six of the Broncos' 11 3-pointers in the contest in addition to grabbing six rebounds. Freshman Rachel Bowers also got in on the long-range act, hitting her second-career triple while going 6-for-7 from the field for 13 points.

The Broncos took a 13-point halftime lead, then scored 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting in the third quarter to stretch it to 17 at 60-43.

WHO'S NEXT
The Broncos host Nevada Saturday as the teams wrap up their regular-season set. Boise State captured the first meeting, 75-74, Jan. 16 in Reno.

The Wolf Pack are 2-1 since falling to the Broncos over two weeks ago, with the two victories coming in their last two contests. Nevada beat Colorado State, 62-38, on Jan. 23, and defeated in-state rival UNLV, 70-62, Wednesday night.

Nevada is led by the play of Terae Briggs (15.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and Jade Redmon (14.7 ppg, 2.50 apg).

IN THE LAST MEETING
Boise State picked up a 75-74 win at Nevada on Jan. 16 in a contest that got a lot closer than it needed to in the final minutes.

The Broncos led by 10 at halftime, but Nevada steadily chipped away during the second half. With Boise State up eight with 4:08 to play, the Broncos went 5-for-6 from the line over the final minute while withstanding a pair of Camariah King 3-pointers for the one-point win.

APPROACHING THE TURN
Saturday's meeting with Nevada will mark the turn for Boise State in its conference schedule.

Currently at 7-1, Boise State will at least match, and has the chance to eclipse its best midway-point mark since joining the Mountain West in 2011-12. The Broncos' best first-half performance in Mountain West play was 7-2 in 2015-16.

CITY OF THREES
While the outdoor weather in Boise has been downright pleasant for this time of year, the Broncos have been making it rain in Taco Bell Arena on Mountain West opponents. Over the first four home games of the conference season, the Broncos have hit 37 triples (9.3 per game at a 40.2-percent clip.

Thrice in those four games the Broncos have hit at least 10 3-pointers, highlighted by 11 Wednesday night against Colorado State.

LUPFER HEATING UP?
Junior guard Riley Lupfer hit six 3-pointers and scored a season high-matching 22 points Wednesday night against Colorado, just her second performance of at least five triples this season.

Facing tougher defense and hands in her face this year after setting the program and conference single-season record with 122 3-pointers last season, Lupfer's six triples responded well to her 0-for-4 performance from deep Jan. 26 at Wyoming. That performance snapped Lupfer's run of 51-straight games with at least one 3-pointer made.

WHEN LUPFER'S ON...
It goes without saying that it portends well for the Broncos when Riley Lupfer is on fire from deep. After Wednesday's effort of six 3-pointers, Boise State is now 11-1 all-time in games in which Lupfer hits at least five 3-pointers.

Six 3️⃣s in last night's win over Colorado State.

Don't let @rileylupfer2 catch 🔥. It doesn't end well for opponents the last three seasons...#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/BuVyiSRpPb
— Boise State WBB (@BroncoSportsWBB) January 31, 2019

BACK TO NORMAL
It wasn't just Riley Lupfer responding from a season-worst performance from deep Wednesday night against Colorado State. After hitting a season-low two triples as a team Jan. 26 at Wyoming, the Broncos bounced back with 11 3-pointers against the Rams.

While Lupfer led the way with six, fellow junior Braydey Hodgins hit a pair while Rachel Bowers, Sofía Galerón, and Ellie Woerner each drained one.

PROTECT TACO BELL ARENA
Boise State went 7-2 in conference play at Taco Bell Arena last season, and are off to a 4-0 start this season after Wednesday's win over Colorado State.

The Broncos are 45-19 all-time in Mountain West games at Taco Bell Arena, and have gone 7-2 in each of the past five seasons.

THE 20-GAME MARK
Saturday's contest with Nevada will be Boise State's 20th game of the season, a good point at which to assess the Broncos' start compared to past years.

A win over the Wolf Pack would be the 17th of the season, and would be the program's first 17-3 start since 1993-94, and fourth overall (also 1976-77 and 1977-78). Boise State's best-ever 20-game start was a 19-1 mark in 1974-75.

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Players Mentioned

Rachel Bowers

Braydey Hodgins

Riley Lupfer

Ellie Woerner

Boise State Athletics