Fresno State Vies for Sweep of San Diego State

Jan. 27, 2015

By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com

FRESNO, Calif. - With a week off, Fresno State was back on the road on Saturday extending its win streak to 11 games with a 62-44 win at Nevada. The Bulldogs return home this week for two games beginning with San Diego State on Wednesday.. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., PT and will stream live on the Mountain West Network with Christian Lukens on the call for ESPN2 790 AM.

Red Wave Takeover

• During Wednesday's Red Wave Takeover/Social Media madness event, interactive contests will be done throughout the night through social media. In the theme of giving, a $100 bill will be given out every five minutes of game time during the contest, and fans can also walk away with a pair of Fresno State sunglasses. During halftime, Fresno's favorite, Mutts in Motion will be performing.

Game Info
Fresno State (15-3, 7-0 MW) vs. San Diego State (6-12, 3-4 MW) -- Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Video: Mountain West Network; Radio: ESPN2 790 AM; Live Stats: GoBulldogs.com
Tipoff: 7 p.m. PT

Game Notes

Bulldog Bites

• Fresno State is currently on a 11-game winning streak, the longest since a 12-game unbeaten streak during the 2011-12 season when the team didn't lose from Jan. 11-Feb. 23.

• During the streak, the Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents by 10.3 points and holding an 8.1 rebound advantage. 'The Dogs are allowing its opponents to shoot 37.1 percent from the field and only 26.3 percent from 3-point range.

• In the last 11 games, Fresno State has been building up sizeable leads during their first 20 minutes of play en route to its wins, outscoring opponents by 8.5 points per game in the first half.

• Senior forward Alex Sheedy is posting an average of 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists and 1.9 steals during the last 11 games.

• Since assuming the starting point guard role on Dec. 12 versus Saint Mary's, junior Shauqunna Collins had averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game. The team has not loss since she moved into the role.

• During conference play, she has led an opportunistic defense which leads the Mountain West in steals at 13.0 per game as she swiping 3.4 to lead the league.

• Collins has had breakout performances in the past two games, 26 and 17-point performances on the road.

• Since moving out to the starting lineup and coming off of the bench against Saint Mary's (Dec. 12), redshirt freshman center Bego Faz Davalos has averaged 6.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 23.8 minutes.

• In the last five games, she is averaging 6.4 blocks per game, not recording less than six in a contest.

• One of the weaker teams prior to conference play in rebounding, six Bulldogs are averaging three or more boards a game since starting MW play as the team holds a plus-8.1 rebounding margin, second in the conference.

Recent Results

• With only four players scoring, the Bulldogs left Nevada on Jan. 24 with a 62-44 win behind a combined 58 points from Alex Sheedy (22), Raven Fox (19) and Shauqunna Collins (17).

• Fresno State continued its winning streak in dramatic fashion at Wyoming on Jan. 17 as Shauqunna Collins willed the 'Dogs to a 56-55 win at Wyoming behind her 26 points. Collins scored 16 of her points in the second half, including the game's final basket, a layup with 4.9 seconds remaining on the clock.

• The Bulldogs knocked off San Jose State 58-46 on Jan. 14, stifling the Spartans' offense as they shot only 25 percent from the field. The 'Dogs were led by double-doubles from Alex Sheedy (15 points and 12 rebounds) and Bego Faz Davalos (11 points and 12 rebounds). It was the first time that two Fresno State players have recorded double-doubles in the same game since Nov. 30, 2013.

• Fresno State became the last unbeaten team in conference play, moving its record to 4-0 with a 65-43 win over Nevada on Jan. 10 as assistant coach Mandi Carver assumed head coaching duties due to the absence of head coach Jaime White who was away after a death in the family. Sheedy led the team in scoring with 17 points, while redshirt freshman center Bego Faz Davalos filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, six blocks, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.

• The 'Dogs took over the conference lead with their third-straight win on Jan. 7, topping Utah State 70-64 on the road as seniors Alex Furr and Sheedy each posted 17-point performances. The duo combined to score 25 of their 34 points in the second half.

Series History with San Diego State

• The Aztecs hold a 15-26 record all-time against the Bulldogs.

• Fresno State has won four of the last six matchups dating back to 2013, but both losses have come on its home court.

• The Bulldogs won this season's previous matchup with the Aztecs 56-44 on Jan. 3 at the Viejas Center as the 'Dogs opened the game on a 20-2 run before SDSU scored its first field goal of the game at the 11:19 mark. Alex Sheedy had a game-high 19 points, including 13 in the second half to keep the Aztecs at bay.

A Look at San Diego State

• The Aztecs are 6-12 on the year and 3-4 overall in the Mountain West, earning two of their conference wins in their last four games, defeating Wyoming and Air Force.

• Erimma Amarikwa is tops on the team in points and rebounds per game at 12.4 and 7.3, respectively.

• SDSU is holding opponents to just under 40-percent shooting in conference play, and only 26.8 from the 3-point line. They, though, are only shooting 37.1 percent from the field and 15.8 percent from beyond the arc as they average 54.4 points per game.

Only Takes Three

• In an odd looking box score, only four Bulldogs scored in their 62-44 win at Nevada (Jan. 24), but three of those 'Dogs outscored the Wolf Pack by themselves. Alex Sheedy (22), Raven Fox (19) and Shauqunna Collins (17) combined to score 58 points, 14 more than the entire Nevada team which saw all nine of its players score. Only one, 6-foot-8 center Mimi Mungedi reach doubled figures with 12 points.

White Out

• Since taking over at Fresno State, first-year head coach Jaime White has erased any notions of a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs. With a 15-3 record, she is already enjoying one of the best season's in school history and is on pace to record the best winning percentage in program history.

• White's winning percentage is currently at .833, which is .01 percentage points better than Adrian Wiggins' final season in as a Bulldog in 2011-12 when his team went 28-6.

• During that season, the 'Dogs had four losses during their non-conference schedule (compared to three this year), lost one game during their final season in the Western Athletic Conference and lost their first round game in the NCAA tournament.

• Aside from 2011-12, no other Bulldog team has finished with a winning percentage over .800 and only three other seasons have seen a winning percentage over .750.

• Only three coaches in Fresno State's history have finished their first full season with a winning percentage above .700, with Adrian Wiggins having the highest at .750 in 2005-06.

Producing in the Clutch

• With the game tied at the half at Wyoming (Jan. 17), Shauqunna Collins not only produced the game-winning bucket with less than five seconds remaining, she accounted for 16 points in the second half.

• The 16 second-half points is the third most by a Bulldog this season. Trailing to Bethesda (Dec. 19) at the half, Alex Sheedy scored 19 points during the final 20 minutes in an 18-point win.

• Raven Fox leads the Bulldogs in most points in a half this season as she posted 20 points in the second half at San Diego (Nov. 28) in a 93-88 win.

Returning to a Familiar Place

• On Jan. 17, Fresno State Head Coach Jaime White went back to Laramie, Wyo., and helped the Bulldogs earn the program's first win at Wyoming.

• White spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Wyoming before leaving to take the head coaching job at Northern Colorado.

• She worked under current Wyoming head coach Joe Legarski, who she followed from Utah when the two were assistants on the Ute's staff.

Attacking the Glass

• Although the Bulldogs only held a plus-1.4 rebounding margin in 11 non-conference games, the team's margin in conference play has jumped to plus-8.1 despite top rebounders Alex Sheedy and Bego Faz Davalos' averages slipping.

• Only three players posted three or more rebounds per game during the first 11 games of the season, but since conference play began, six Bulldogs are grabbing three or more per game in Mountain West Play.

• The team's rebounding margin is currently second in the MW in conference games.

Starting Fast

• During the Bulldogs current 11-game winning streak, they are averaging 34.0 points during the first half, while holding opponents to only 25.5.

Playing in Paint

• Whether it's been with its offense or defense, Fresno State has found a great deal of success this season in the paint, with the dominance there being a key to securing one win after another. The Bulldogs are 14-0 when outscoring opponents in the paint, averaging 34.9 points in those games compared to just 25.0 their opponents.

Turning Defense Into Offense

• Fresno State has embodied its nickname this season. Bulldogs is not just a name for the team, but a mentality for its aggressive defense. With a penchant for forcing turnovers and making them count, the 'Dogs are 9-0 when scoring more points off turnovers than their opponents.

Moving Fast

• Speed has been at times been a problem for Bulldog opponents this season as progressively throughout the year, Fresno State has increased its tempo and pressure. Whether it's off of an opponent's turnover or missed basket, the 'Dogs have made a habit of scoring on the break and it's churning out results in the win column as they are 11-0 this year when outscoring their opponents in fast break points.

• In the 11 wins, the Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents by 6.6 points per game on the fast break.

Winning Time

• When games have been close, the Bulldogs have been able to find ways to win this season. With a one-point win at Wyoming (Jan. 17), the 'Dogs moved to 4-0 on the year in games that are decided by five points or less.

• The one-point victory at Wyoming was the Bulldogs' first win by one point since defeating the Cowgirls 63-62 on the March 15, 2013 in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament.

• This season, Fresno State is 7-1 when games have been decided by 10 points or less, with the only loss coming on the road at George Washington by nine.

Haven't Left Too Often

• Of Fresno State's 18 games, the team has only left the state of California on five times.

• The Bulldogs are 4-1 outside of their home state, winning games at Oregon, Nevada, Utah State and Wyoming.

Home Sweet Home

• Fresno State is 9-0 this season when playing its games at the Save Mart Center.

• During the last four-plus seasons, the Bulldogs are have lost only seven games in front of its home crowd.

We Own the Night

• When the sun goes down, the Bulldogs thrive, outscoring their opponents by 12.3 points per game while going 7-0.

• The 'Dogs are outshoot their opponents by 8.5 percent from the field at night and 11.4 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Pickin' Pockets

• Through 18 games, Bulldog guards Shauqunna Collins and Raven Fox have been a nuisance for opposing players. The two are currently second and fourth respectively in the Mountain West in steals at 2.3 and 1.9 per game.

• Since the start of the conference season, Collins has swiped 24 of her 42 steals and leads the league with 3.4 per during that span.

• Collins and Fox are not the only 'Dogs coming up with steals. Against Nevada (Jan. 10), it was a complete team effort as six Fresno State players recorded two or more steals as the team finished with a season-high 21 steals and 33 forced turnovers.

• The 21 steals was the most since the Bulldogs recorded 21 at Air Force on March, 2, 2013.

Block Party

• After redshirting in 2013-14, Bego Faz Davalos has burst onto the scene this year, using her rangy 6-foot-3 frame to be a defensive force inside for the Bulldogs. As of Jan. 26, she leads the MW and ranks 12th nationally in blocks per game at 3.44.

• She ranks second in country among freshmen in blocks per game.

• Her 62 blocks is tied for the sixth best single-season season total in Bulldog history.

• Faz Davalos is five blocks shy of entering the Top 10 in school history in career blocks.

• She has recorded seven-blocks in a game three times (Cal State Stanislaus, Nov. 19; Utah State, Jan. 7; San Jose State, Jan. 14), and three six-block games (Nevada, Jan. 10; Wyoming, Jan. 17; Nevada, Jan. 24).

• Since the start of conference play, Faz Davalos is averaging 5.4 blocks per game, 1.8 ahead of Nevada's 6-foot-8 Mimi Mungedi. In the past five games, she has posted six or more blocks in each game, all which rank as the top block performances through eight games and is averaging 6.4 blocks during the past five games.

• Her 14 blocks through seven conference games is 14 shy of the MW record for most blocks in a single season for conference games only which was set by San Diego State's Paris Johnson during the 2008-09 season.

• She is currently 43 blocks shy of the MW record for most blocks in a season of 105 which was set by New Mexico's Jordan Adams during the 2000-01 season.

Broken Record(s)

• Her 62 blocks in all games broke Adams' single-season freshman MW record of 61 that she set during the 1999-2000 season.

• Her 38 blocks in conference broke Adams' single-season freshman record of 32 for MW games only.

Dog From Down Under

• Senior forward Alex Sheedy began her final season in Fresno, Calif., with a solid performance, recording her seventh career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Cal Poly (Nov. 16). The native of Moe, Australia, who earned a spot on the preseason All-Mountain West Team, ended the first half with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go with four rebounds.

• She followed up the season opener with 20 points and eight rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus.

• For the third game in a row (at USC), Sheedy recorded double figures with 16 points and added seven points.

• At Bakersfield, Sheedy recorded her second double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

• After missing practice leading up to facing undefeated UC Riverside (Dec. 4) due to the flu, the senior did not start, but still made a sizable impact, recording her third double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds in only 16 minutes of action.

• Facing three Australian counterparts, Sheedy refused to lose to Saint Mary's (Dec. 12), leading the 'Dogs to a 60-54 win with fourth double-double in eight games with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

• Trailing by five at the half against Bethesda (Dec. 19), the senior stepped up in a big way, scoring 19 of her career-high 25 points to help the 'Dogs score 54 points in the second half to win. Two days later, Sheedy tallied 25 points again, this time in a win at Oregon (Dec. 21).

• She recorded her fifth double-double of the season on Jan. 14 versus San Jose State.

• The Aussie notched her sixth double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds in an 18-point win at Nevada Jan. 24.

• Sheedy has posted double figures in 17 of 18 games this season.

Nearly Automatic Aussie

• In overall games, Alex Sheedy leads the Mountain West in free-throw percentage at .843 (59-of-70) and ranks 53rd nationally (as of Jan. 25).

• Sheedy has only missed more than one free throw in one game this season (two on Nov. 30 at Bakersfield).

Searching for the Top 10

• Currently tied for 15th on the all-time scoring list at Fresno State, Alex Sheedy is 116 points shy of reaching former teammate Taylor Thompson at 1,288 points which ranks 10th all-time.

• She is 15 points away from trying Carena Clay (1981-84) for 14th at 1,187.

Chasing History

• With the Bulldogs' win at Wyoming, the team pushed its record to 14-3, which moved them passed the both the 1989-90 and 1985-86 teams for the third-best start in school history through 17 games. Both of those teams started 13-3 before losing their 17th game.

• With the win at Nevada (Jan. 24), this year's team is tied for the second-best record in school history through 18 games with the 1986-87 team which started 15-3.

• The 1984-85 team opened its season 16-3 before suffering its fourth loss.

Streaking

• The Bulldogs are currently on 11-game winning streak, the third longest streak in program history.

• The next longest win streak in program history is 12 games which the '11-12 team put together from Jan. 11-Feb. 23.

• The program's longest win streak came during the '09-10 season when the 'Dogs put together a stretch of 19 wins en-route to a perfect 16-0 season in the Western Athletic Conference.

Don't Trail, Don't Lose

• Although several games have appeared close throughout the season, the Bulldogs have been able to maintain leads, most notably since Mountain West play has started. During the 'Dogs first 200 minutes of conference action, they only trailed for a total of 4:56.

• The team's largest deficit during the five games had been two points and opponents leads' have only come in the first half.

Dominance in the Post

• In a two-game stretch against Nevada and San Jose State (Jan.10-14), the Bulldogs trio in the post of Alex Sheedy, Bego Faz Davalos and Toni Smith have combined to score 68.5 percent of the team's points. They have score 81 points, grabbed 38 rebounds, blocked 16 shots, and have come up with 13 steals.

Double Down

• Against San Jose State (Jan. 14), Bego Faz Davalos (11 points and 12 rebounds) and Alex Sheedy (15 points and 12 rebounds) each recorded double doubles.

• It was the first time since a 64-50 loss at Seton Hall on Nov. 30, 2013 that a pair of Bulldogs posted double-doubles in the same game. Jacinta Vandenberg posted 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Moriah Faulk had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

"Be Bold" - ESPN2 790 AM is the home of the Fresno State women's basketball team.

Fresno State Athletics

Fresno State Vies for Sweep of San Diego State

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Players Mentioned

Shauqunna Collins

Moriah Faulk

Bego Faz Davalos

Raven Fox

Alex Furr

Alex Sheedy

Toni Smith

Taylor Thompson

Jacinta Vandenberg

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