Fresno State Athletics
Looking at the 2015-16 Bulldogs: The Three
10/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - With former Bulldog Robin Draper gone and senior Alex Furr sliding back into her natural role as an off-guard, Fresno State head coach Jaime White has brought in a bit length and depth this season to fill a need at the three position.
Taller athletes who can play the four in a three-guard system, but also have the versatility to play out in space on the wing exactly is what coaches need in the position. The open spot in the starting lineup may be a question entering the season but its one that could very well turn into a strength.
Returning is the athletic Moriah Faulk. A potentially explosive player, the senior has showed flashes of being both a scorer and a crafty playmaker during her Bulldog career since transferring from UCLA.
Last season, she showed up in one of the team's biggest moments in the postseason. In a tight game against Wyoming in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West tournament, Faulk came off the bench to score 16 points and grab five rebounds in 21 minutes to help the 'Dogs to an eight-point win. It's a spark that she as capable of providing of when playing at the top of her game.
The senior though will be pushed by newcomers in freshman Breanne Knishka and junior college transfer Kendra Martin.
Martin comes to Fresno with a winning mentality after being a part of Chipola College's first NJCAA National Championship last year. A lanky, athletic player, she was a high-percentage scorer, shooting 48.7 percent from the field in 2014-15. At 5-foot-11, Martin has the ability to play inside and outside, as she hit 40-plus percent from the 3 in her final season at Chipola.
More adept at playing on the wing, White expects her post game to develop throughout year, giving her the ability to play inside when the Bulldogs go small. Her athleticism and length fit the mold of what White looks for on the defensive side of the ball as she is capable of developing into a lockdown down defender for the 'Dogs in the Mountain West.
Knishka has been bright spot since practice began. Coaches know what to expect from the freshman. The 5-foot-10 player out of Dryden, Wash., has been very consistent in practices thus far. She is a heady, hustle player that entered the preseason well conditioned.
A 20-plus point scorer as a senior at Cashmere High School, she can not only shoot from the perimeter but also get to the rim. Knishka is not just a scorer, her build will allow her to play inside against post players, boxing out for position on the glass.
Versatility will be a key at the three spot this year as all three players have the capability of playing multiple positions to help White provide different looks to opposing defenses.
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