RENO, Nevada - Utah State women's basketball (5-7, 0-2 MW) lost, 65-54, to Nevada (11-4, 3-0 MW) in Reno on Monday night.

The game stayed tight throughout the opening three quarters as Nevada led Utah State, 46-38, heading into the final period. 

Nevada extended its lead to 14 at 55-41 with 7:11 remaining in the game. The Aggies trimmed the lead to seven at 59-52 with just over three minutes to go, but the Wolf Pack would hold on for the 65-54 victory.

"I couldn't be more proud of our efforts," head coach Kayla Ard said. "We have some things to clean up, but our effort was there. Short-handed whatever. We made no excuses. They did everything I asked them to do. They played hard. I can live with that at the end of the day. Overall, I am very, very proud of their effort and that they didn't make any excuses with short numbers or people being down from COVID or concussions or whatever. They went out there. They competed. They believed in what we were doing. They believed in each other. We have to clean some things up, but I'm really, really proud of their effort and the way they stayed together tonight. We're only going to get better moving forward."

Senior guard/forward E'Lease Stafford registered her first double-double of the season to lead the Aggies with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Kaylin Randhawa also scored 12 points while senior point guard Manna Mensah finished with 10.

Utah State finished the night shooting 31.7 percent (20-of-63) from the field, 20.0 percent (5-of-25) from behind the arc and 75.0 percent (9-of-12) at the free throw line. Nevada shot 34.6 percent (27-of-78) from the floor, 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from behind the 3-point line and 55.6 percent (5-of-9) at the free throw. 

USU next returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to host New Mexico (11-4, 2-0 MW) on Thursday, Jan. 6, at 6 p.m.

Fans can follow USU women's basketball on Twitter, @USUWBasketball, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at /USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at /USUAthletics.