RENO, Nev. (Interstat) — The Nevada women’s basketball team used a decisive third-quarter surge to overcome a halftime deficit and edge Loyola Marymount 56-52 in a non-conference game Thursday afternoon at a raucous Lawlor Events Center.

In a contest defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, the Wolf Pack outscored the Lions 18-12 in the pivotal third period to seize control, turning a 24-24 halftime deadlock into a lead they would not relinquish. The victory improved Nevada’s record to 2-1, while Loyola Marymount fell to 1-2.

Nevada’s Izzy Sullivan, a 5-foot-10 guard from Sammamish, Washington, led all scorers with 15 points, including a crucial floating jumper in the final minute that extended the Wolf Pack’s lead to four. She added three rebounds, two assists and a block in 33 minutes. Ahrray Young, a 5-11 guard from Sacramento, California, provided a critical spark for Nevada, scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds.

The Lions were led by Maya Hernandez, a 6-foot forward from San Jose, California, who tallied 16 points. Key contributions came from Ivana Krajina, a 5-11 guard from Kastel Novi, Croatia, who posted 12 points and five assists, and Andjela Matic, a 5-8 guard from Ub, Serbia, who also scored 12 points.

The game was a defensive battle from the start, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. Loyola Marymount held a narrow 12-11 lead after the first quarter, and the teams were tied at the break. The Lions shot just 42.9 percent from the field for the game and were plagued by a 5-for-11 performance from the free-throw line. Nevada was more efficient, shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and a sharp 85.7 percent from the charity stripe.

Turnovers were a major factor, with Nevada committing 17 and Loyola Marymount giving the ball away 15 times. The Lions capitalized slightly better, scoring 18 points off turnovers compared to 17 for the Wolf Pack. The battle inside was nearly even, with Nevada holding a slim 30-28 advantage in points in the paint.

A crowd of 4,970 watched as the Wolf Pack weathered a late push from the Lions. After Nevada built its lead in the third, Loyola Marymount fought back to tie the game at 52-52 late in the fourth quarter on a Hernandez jumper. Sullivan’s clutch basket with 29 seconds left put Nevada back ahead, and a final layup from Young with 11 seconds remaining sealed the victory after the Lions were forced to foul.

Nevada next travels to face Saint Mary’s on Sunday. Loyola Marymount returns home to host Westcliff on Tuesday.