Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
18-7, 10-4MW
Utah State
7-19, 4-10MW
Post Players Push `Dogs Past Utah State, 64-55
2/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Behind a combined 40 points and 20 rebounds from senior forward Alex Sheedy and junior center Toni Smith, Fresno State ended its four-game losing streak, defeating Utah State 64-55 on Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center.
"We knew it was going to be physical and up-tempo," head coach Jaime White said. "We just had more runs than them. [Funda Nakkasoglu] is a good player and we did a good job of defending her late in the game."
Sheedy led the Bulldogs with her league-leading ninth double-double of the year and 15th of her career as she posted 22 points and 12 rebounds. It was her second in a row scoring a season-low four points at Boise State on Feb. 14. The 12 rebounds also tied her career high and the scoring output was her sixth game of 20-plus points this season. Smith was one shy of her career-high point total as she notched 18 to go with eight rebounds.
The Bulldog offense was also aided by Robin Draper, who in the previous two games was forced to come off of the bench for the first time this season. The senior guard took it in stride and stepped up today as she returned to the starting lineup, posting 12 points, her first double-digit performance since the start of December.
"Each game I'm just trying to bring what the team needs, and our team needs a lot of leadership," Draper said of her game.
The senior went 3-of-3 from the field, 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, had a season-best 4-of-4 from the line to go with three rebounds, three assists, two steals and no turnovers.
After Utah State connected on 14-of-14 from the free throw line in Logan, Utah on Jan. 7, in a six-point game, the tide was turned in this contest as the Bulldogs, a 67.9 percent shooting team from line entering the game, shot 18-of-21 (85.7 percent) from the stripe, as their posts went a combined 13-of-15 compared to the Aggies who hit just 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) as a team.
"Those free throws are going to count every game," White noted.
They were key to the win as time and time again, Fresno State was forced to fight off comeback attempts from the Aggies at freshman Funda Nakkasoglu had a game-high 24 and six assists as she tried to will Utah State (7-19, 4-10 MW) back into the game. The win though snapped the Bulldogs' worst losing streak since the 2003-04 season (the 0-6 start to the 2007-08 season was vacated).
"We have to battle right now," White said. "I thought we listened well and worked well as a team.
"At this point, we have to realize that winning helps everything. That's the focus."
The Bulldogs will be back at the Save Mart Center on Feb. 25 for a 7 p.m., tipoff against Wyoming. The game will be Greek Night and International Night. There will be a Greek tank giveaway and the chapter with the highest attendance will win a $250 Visa gift card. Free pizza will also be given out to the Fresno State student section. Throughout the game, Fresno State will also honor the rich diversity throughout the Central Valley. For the night's biggest giveaways, over $1,000 in Save Mart gift cards will be given away throughout the game.
In a contest that saw its share of quick spurts, the Bulldogs were able to keep the Aggies within arm's length all afternoon. Utah State held a four-point lead early in the first half, but a 12-2 run in a four-minute span gave the 'Dogs a 20-14 advantage less than eight minutes into the game and Fresno State never really looked back.
The Aggies pulled within one on several occasions, and found itself only trailing 30-28 at the half after ending the first period on a 5-0 run. Out of the break though, Fresno State pushed its lead back up to eight at 36-28 three minutes in with a 6-0 spurt, but the Utah State responded with a 9-0 run during the next four minutes to grab their its lead in more than 21 minutes as a jumper from Tijana Djukic put them up 37-36 with 13 minutes on the clock.
The Bulldogs then began to force the ball back inside, picking up fouls on the Utah State defenders. During the ensuing two and a half minutes, Smith knocked down four free throws and Sheedy added a pair as well to go along with a layup. Then Draper dropped a key 3-pointer with 10:16 to go to extend the lead back to 10 at 47-37.
Nakkasoglu wouldn't allow the Aggies to go away quietly though, as she scored five points within a 16-second span to cut the team's deficit to five. After a jumper from Smith brought it back to seven, the freshman guard from Australia responded with a layup.
Sheedy followed with a layup, but USU's Franny Vaaulu sank a 3 to make it a 53-49 game with 6:32 to play. The 'Dogs clamped down from there, not allowing the Aggies to score for more than four minutes as they pushed their lead back to eight from free throw line.
After two free throws from Nakkasoglu with 2:23 on the clock made it a 57-51 game, Sheedy and Smith accounted for the Bulldogs' next seven points to close out the game.
"Everyone came into the game focused," Sheedy said. "We knew what we wanted, and I don't think anyone thought we were going to lose that game. We have a good mindset right now and I think we have an understanding of what we need to do the rest of the season."
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