'Dogs and Lobos Clash in The Pit on Saturday

Feb. 27, 2015

By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com

FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State faces New Mexico in a battle for second place in the Mountain West on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Lobos is scheduled for 1 p.m., PT at WisePies Arena/The Pit and will stream live on the Mountain West Network.

Game Info
Frenso State (19-7, 11-4 MW) at New Mexico (16-11, 12-4 MW) -- Albuquerque, N.M. (WisePies Arena/The Pit)
Video: Mountain West Network Stats: golobos.com
Tipoff: 1 p.m., PT

Game Notes

Bulldog Bites

• The Bulldogs locked up a first round bye in the the Mountain West tournament with a 67-50 win on Feb. 24 over Wyoming as Alex Sheedy matched her career high in points with 25.

• After only scoring four points on Feb. 14 at Boise State Sheedy has scored 18, 22 and 25 points in her last three games.

• The `Dogs held the Cowgirls to their lowest scoring output of the season (50), lowest number of made 3s (3) and least attempted 3s (10).

• Fresno State ended its four-game losing streak on Feb. 21 with a 64-55 win over Utah State. The `Dogs had not dropped four games in a row since the start of the 2007-08 season. With all but one game being vacated that season, the last time Fresno State has, on record, lost four games in a row would be during the 2003-04 season.

• The win was the Bulldogs first during the month of February after losing only one game during December and January.

• After only four points in a season-low 14 minutes at Boise State on Feb. 14, senior forward Alex Sheedy has returned to old self, posting back-to-back double-doubles against Colorado State Utah State with a combined 40 points and 24 rebounds.

• Within an increase in minutes in recent weeks, junior center Toni Smith has taken advantage of the extra time, posting 15.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during the last four contests.

• During a 1-3 stretch beginning on Jan. 31, the `Dogs had lost the rebounding battle in each game, but they have since recorded a plus-37 rebounding margin in their last four games, including grabbing 59 offensive boards.

• Against Utah State on Feb. 21, the Fresno state continued its trend of winning when leading at the half as the team has only lost one game this season when holding a lead at the break (15-1).

• The `Dogs remain the only team in the Mountain West to rank in the top three in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, 3-point percentage defense, blocks and steals.

• Fresno State's 13-game winning streak was snapped on in Feb. 4 in a 56-51 loss at San Jose State. The streak was the second-longest streak in program history.

• The nine straight wins to start conference play was the `Dogs best start in league play since the 2011-12 season when the team won 11 in a row during its last season in the Western Athletic Conference.

Recent Results

• Fresno State swept Wyoming for the first time ever as the team defeated the Cowgirls 76-50 on Feb. 24 at the Save Mart Center as Alex Sheedy led the team after matching her career high with 25 points.

• The Bulldogs ended their longest losing streak in more than a decade on Feb. 21 with a 64-55 win over Utah State as Alex Sheedy posted her second-straight double-double with 22 point and 12 rebounds.

• Fresno State lost its fourth game in a row, and second in Fort Collins, Colo., as the Ram came away with a 70-56 victory on their home court despite Alex Sheedy recording her league-leading eighth double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Bulldogs were plus-eight on the glass, but were 9.4 steals below their average.

• The Bulldogs dropped their third game in a row as Boise State dealt them a 75-66 loss at the Taco Bell Arena, the team's second-straight loss in overtime.

• Fresno State lost its second straight game, falling to UNLV 73-70 in overtime at home. The loss snapped a 17-game win streak at the Save Mart Center.

• The Bulldogs dropped their first game of the conference season, falling to San Jose State on the road, 56-51, in a game that saw 47 combined turnovers, with 25 coming from Fresno State. The team did come up with 16 steals, but was unable to capitalize on them as SJSU held an 18-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

• In a rematch of the 2014 Reese's Mountain West Championship, Fresno State overcame its worst shooting game of the season (24.2%) to defeat Colorado State and take a two-game lead in the conference race. The `Dogs used an 18-point advantage in points off turnovers and 11-point edge from points from the free throw line to get the 53-49 win.

Series History with New Mexico

• The Bulldogs and Lobos are tied in the all-time series, 8-7.

• Fresno State has won four straight in the series, by a combined margin of 13 points. Its largest win during the span came at home earlier this season, 71-65.

• The `Dogs won last season's contest at The Pit, 51-50.

A Look at New Mexico

• New Mexico is 16-11 overall and 12-4 in conference.

• Prior to a loss at UNLV on Feb. 21, the Lobos were riding an eight-game winning.

• Antiesha Brown leads the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game and Kadijah Shumpert is behind her at 10.7. Shumpert leads the team on with glass, grabbing 6.2 boards per game.

• New Mexico has played four teams this season that began the year ranked in the Top 20, including three that were in the Top 5.

Shooting for 37

• It has been a strong indicator this season that when Fresno State records a shooting percentage of 37 or above, odds are is that the team will win. The Bulldogs are 18-1 this season when shooting above 37 percent from the field.

• When the team's percentage dips below 37 percent, they are just 1-6.

• Fresno State has only lost one game this season when out-shooting its opponent, but the team is just 4-5 when its opponent shoots better from the field.

Defensive Mindset

• Under first-year head coach Jaime White, defense has been a staple as Fresno State is currently the only team in the Mountain West to rank in the top three in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, 3-point percentage defense, blocks and steals.

Pickin' Pockets

• Through 26 games, Bulldog guards Shauqunna Collins and Raven Fox have been a nuisance for opposing players. Fox is third in the Mountain West in steals at 2.2 per game, and Collins is fourth at 2.0.

• Since the start of the conference season, the Collins is second and Fox is third in the league in steals with 2.3 per game..

• 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.

• As a unit, the Bulldogs rank 23rd in the NCAA in steals with 11.1 per game.

Taking Advantage of Minutes

• Since Jan. 28, junior center Toni Smith has been a force inside, leading the team with 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds.

• During the eight-game span, she has recorded six double-digit performance including a career-best 19 at Boise State (Feb. 14).

• Heading into this season, Smith only had two double-digit performances, but is currently is up to 11.

• Smith has played more than 20 minutes in each of the last eight games, but only played 20-plus minutes in four of the previous 18 games.

Dog From Down Under

• Senior forward Alex Sheedy of Moe, Australia, earned a spot on the preseason All-Mountain West Team prior to the opening of the season.

• She has recorded nine double-doubles this season, three more than she had in her career entering her final season.

• Sheedy has posted double figures in 23 of 26 games this season and has seven 20-point games.

• 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 also matched the high of 25 on Feb. 24 in a 17-point win over Wyoming.

Nearly Automatic Aussie

• In overall games, Alex Sheedy is second in the Mountain West in free-throw percentage at .840 (89-of-106) and ranks 48th nationally (as of Feb. 27).

• Sheedy has only missed more than one free throw in a game twice this season (two on Nov. 30 at Bakersfield and two on Feb. 24 vs. Wyoming).

Searching for the Top 10

• Currently 11th on the all-time scoring list at Fresno State, Alex Sheedy is five points shy of reaching former teammate Taylor Thompson at 1,288 points which ranks 10th all-time.

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 Feb. 27, she leads the MW and ranks 14th nationally in blocks per game at 3.23.

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

• Her 84 blocks is the fifth best single-season season total in Bulldog history.

• Faz Davalos is sixth 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 has three six-block games (Nevada, Jan. 10; Wyoming, Jan. 17; Nevada, Jan. 24).

• Since the start of conference play, Faz Davalos is averaging 4.0 blocks per game, 1.6 ahead of Nevada's Mimi Mungedi.

• Her 60 blocks through 15 conference games broke the MW record for most blocks in a single season for conference games only. The previous mark was 52.

• She is currently 21 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)

• Against Nevada (Jan. 24), Bego Faz Davalos recorded her 62nd block in all games which broke Adams' single-season freshman MW record of 61 that she set during the 1999-2000 season.

• In that game, she also recorded her 38th block in conference which broke Adams' single-season freshman record of 32 for MW games only.

• On Feb. 14 at Boise State, Faz Davalos posted her 53rd block of the season, breaking the single-season record for blocks in MW games.

Extra Time No More

• Overtime has not been kind to the Bulldogs this season as they have trailed 8-0 and 7-0 to start overtime this year as they lost both games/

• With overtime games against UNLV and Boise State, the `Dogs played back-to-back overtime games for only the second time in program history, with the first coming during the 1990-91 season.

• Dating back to the 2004-05 season, Fresno State is now 3-7 in overtime games.

Don't Trail, Don't Lose

• Prior to the playing UNLV on Feb. 11, the Bulldogs were 13-0 when holding the lead at the half. The `Dogs led 31-27 at the break, but after forcing overtime, the Lady Rebels dealt the team its first loss of season when leading at the half.

• Fresno State is currently 15-1 when leading at the half.

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 10-1 when scoring more points off turnovers than their opponents.

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 17-3 when outscoring opponents in the paint.

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 12-2 this year when outscoring their opponents in fast break points.

• In the 12 wins, the Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents by 5.7 points per game on the fast break.

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 reached double 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 19-7 record, she is already enjoying one of the best season's in school history.

• 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.

Making History

• With the Bulldogs' win versus Colorado State on Jan. 31, this year's team set the school record for the best 20-game start to season at 17-3.

• The 1984-85 team had opened its season 16-3 before suffering its fourth loss in its 20th game.

13 in a Row

• The Bulldogs' 13-game winning streak, this season surpassed the `11-12 team for the second-longest in school history. The `11-12 team put together a run of 12-straight wins.

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

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. Against Utah State (Feb. 21), Toni Smith posted 16 points during their second half after only two in the first.

• 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

• 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 and one other is at 2.9 per contest.

Haven't Left Too Often

• Of Fresno State's 26 games, the team has only left the state of California on seven times.

• The Bulldogs are 4-3 outside of their home state, winning games at Oregon, Nevada, Utah State and Wyoming.

Home Sweet Home

• Fresno State is 13-1 this season when playing its games at the Save Mart Center.

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

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.

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs and Lobos Clash in The Pit on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Shauqunna Collins

Moriah Faulk

Bego Faz Davalos

Raven Fox

Alex Sheedy

Toni Smith

Taylor Thompson

Jacinta Vandenberg

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