Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Cal State East Bay
'Dogs Top Cal State East Bay in Exhibition
11/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Led by three players in double figures, the Fresno State women's basketball team won its lone exhibition game of the season on Friday evening at the Save Mart Center downing Cal State East Bay 65-53.
"I was very pleased with tonight's game. We have a new group and different team. For the most part, I felt good about everything. I thought we shot the three-pointer well, especially in the first half, which was nice to see. I thought we could have rebounded a little better, we try to get 40 per game, but turnovers, I thought we turned the ball over a few too many times. I thought there were moments when we were going to bust out and go out on a 10-0 run, but we let them come back."
Leading the charge for the Bulldogs was senior forward Toni Smith with a game-high 17 points as she converted on 8-for-12 from the field and added three rebounds and three steals. Also finishing the evening in double figures for the 'Dogs were senior guard Shauqunna Collins with 13 points while also chipping in three boards and five steals. Alex Furr added 11 points, including a pair of three-pointers. The Pioneers were led by guard Laci Effenberger with 13 points as she hit went 3-for-5 from behind the arc and added four assists and three steals. Madison Craig chipped in 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting from the field and forward Tori Breshers added nine points.
With the introduction of quarters into women's basketball this season, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 17-12 lead after the first ten minutes of play behind nine points from Furr. The senior from Athens, Texas hit a pair of three pointers and added a layup to get the 'Dogs offense going early.
The 'Dogs continued their strong start offensively opening the second quarter with a 13-4 run in the first 5:51 to takes its largest lead of the first half taking a 30-16 lead. The run was highlighted by four 'Dogs scoring and a pair of three pointers by Kendra Martin and Brittany Aikens.
Fresno State kept a double-digit cushion heading into the locker room for halftime after Martin hit her second trey of the game with eight seconds remaining in the first half to put the 'Dogs ahead 36-23 at the break.
With the 'Dogs nursing an 11-point lead into the final frame, a quick 6-0 run by the 'Dogs, capped by a layup from center Bego Faz Davalos, in the first 70 seconds of the quarter put the home team in front by 17 with 8:50 remaining. An 11-2 run by Cal State East Bay kept the visitors hanging around as they trimmed the lead to eight in less than three minutes, but the Bulldogs scored eight of the final twelve points of the game to seal the win.
The Bulldogs shot 46.3% (25-54) from the field and 40% (6-15) from three-point range. The 'Dogs outrebounded the Pioneers 32-28, including grabbing 11 offensive boards, and 34-18 in the paint. Fresno State opens the regular season next on Nov. 13 at UC Riverside with a 4 p.m., tipoff against the Highlanders at SRC Arena.
"Be Bold" - The official home of the Fresno State women's basketball team is ESPN2 790 AM.
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