Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
9-7, 5-0MW
San Jose State
6-11, 4-2MW
Bulldogs Down San Jose State, 59-54
1/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
SAN JOSE, Calif. - With a strong defensive effort, holding San Jose State to 33.9 percent shooting, Fresno State earned its first win in San Jose since March 3, 2011 with a 59-54 victory. Senior forward Toni Smith helped the Bulldogs control paint as she matched her career high with 19 points to go with seven rebounds.
Senior guard Shauqunna Collins helped Smith out as she added 14 points, four assists and three steals. Redshirt sophomore Bego Faz Davalos had a hand in all aspects of the game as the center recorded seven points, eight rebounds, four blocks, two steals and a career-best seven assists. The Spartans were paced by the Mountain West's No. 2 scorer, Dezz Ramos, who posted 20 points, including going 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
Fresno State dominated the paint, going inside early and often as the team held a 38-16 edge in the paint.
Trailing 4-2 early in the first, the Bulldogs went a 10-0 run over the next three minutes that was sparked by three Spartan turnovers and six points from Collins. The Spartans rallied back though with 9-0 run of their own, capped off by a 3 from Ramos with 1:59 remaining in the quarter that gave the home team a one-point lead.
SJSU extended its lead to three with under 30 seconds to go, but Moriah Faulk drained a 3-pointer with the clock winding down to level the game at 15-15 at the end of the opening quarter.
Emily Vann opened the scoring in the second with a 3 from the top of the key as SJSU took a three-point lead. The 'Dogs tried to hang close, but the Spartans built their lead up to seven with 3:35 to go in the half as Ramos knocked down her second 3 of the of the game. Fresno State responded late though with a 6-0 spurt to end the half as Faulk knocked down her second 3-pointer of the opening 20 minutes.
Trailing 28-27 at the half, Fresno State had a decided advantage in the paint, holding a 20-8 edge. It was an area that the Bulldogs would continue to exploit throughout the game.
The 'Dogs did just that as they opened the second half. Smith and Faz Davalos scored the team's first three baskets of the quarter as Fresno State held a 33-31 lead two minutes in. SJSU regained the lead with 6:08 on the clock as Ramos dropped in another 3. The Bulldogs defense then clamped down and held the Spartans scoreless for over four minutes as they put together an 8-0 run.
San Jose State refused to be put away on its home court, cutting their deficit to three heading into the fourth quarter. A 3-pointer from Ramos leveled the game at the 6:59 mark. A minute later, Fresno State's Breanne Knishka hit a 12-footer with the shot clock winding down as the 'Dogs took the lead for good, but not without resistance from the home team.
Leading by two with 3:24 on the clock, Collins grabbed a key offensive rebound managed to get a shot off while being fouled. The shot went down and Collins added the free throw for the three-point play. At the other end, Faz Davalos came up with a steal on Ramos and found Brittany Aikens on an outlet pass that she took in for a layup to push the lead to seven and force SJSU to call a timeout.
Another turnover by the Spartans led to a layup by Collins as the 'Dogs took 54-45 lead with 2:02 remaining. The lead quickly disappeared as the Spartans scored five unanswered in 30 seconds. Fresno State though came up on the two big stops in the final minutes as the lead was pushed back up to seven.
Fresno State returns home on Jan. 20 to host San Diego State at 7 p.m., PT at the Save Mart Center. The game is Spring Sports Night where group rates will be discounted for youth and high school sports teams. Fans can also meet student-athletes from Fresno State's spring sports teams. Also available for Fresno State students will be an opportunity to win a spring parking pass.
"Be Bold" - The official home of the Fresno State women's basketball team is 790ESPN "The Deuce".
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