Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
12-7, 8-0MW
Wyoming
10-9, 3-6MW
Bulldogs rally to top Wyoming 49-42
1/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Laramie, Wyo. - Behind a third consecutive double-double from Bego Faz Davalos and a seventh consecutive double figure scoring game from Toni Smith, Fresno State overcame a eight-point third quarter deficit to defeat Wyoming 49-42 on Wednesday at Arena-Auditorium.
Fresno State (12-7, 8-0 MW) extends its winning streak to eight games to remain one of only two teams remaining in the Mountain West without a conference loss.
Smith continued her recent scoring surge leading the Bulldogs with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and added five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Faz Davalos recorded her 10th double-double of the season scoring 10 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds. The sophomore center went 5-of-8 from the field and added six blocks and three steals. Senior guards Shauquanna Collins and Moriah Faulk added nine and five points, respectively, off the bench for the Bulldogs.
Wyoming (10-9, 3-6 MW) was led in scoring by the duo of Natalie Baker and Marta Gomez. The pair managed to score 28 of the Cowgirls' 42 points as Baker finished with 16 points on 7-for-21 shooting from the field and Gomez chipped in 12 points and six rebounds.
A defensive battle from the tilt, the 'Dogs held a 9-8 lead at the end of the first quarter after holding Wyoming to just 3-of-18 from the field. Aided by the cold start from the Cowgirls was seven blocks by the Bulldogs, including three from senior guard Britttany Aikens.
The Cowgirls came storming out to open the second quarter, going on a 9-2 run getting
four points from Gomez and two from Roberts to take a 17-11 with 5:35 left in the first half. With the 'Dogs trailing by three with three minutes to go in the opening half, back-to-back layups by Baker gave Wyoming its largest lead of the half at 23-16, but a 3-point basket from Faulk and a quick lay-in from Aikens cut the deficit down to a pair.
The `Dogs trailed by four at the break, 25-21, after neither team could get much going on the offensive end, as both teams shot under 34 percent from the field in the first half. Helping the Bulldogs' cause on defense was 10 blocked shots, five above their season average.
With the Cowgirls starting the second half on an 8-4 run to take their largest lead of the game at 33-25 with 4:24 left in the third quarter, the Bulldogs started to find their rhythm offensively closing the frame on a 6-0 run getting field goals from Faz Davalos, Collins and Smith.
The Bulldogs continued to battle their way back tying the game at 39 apiece with 5:01 left in regulation on a Collins jumper. The 'Dogs turned up the defensive pressure idown the stretch as the Cowgirls went more than five minutes without a point as Wyoming blanked on six field goals attempts.
The 'Dogs took advantage of Wyoming's scoring drought getting back-to-back layups from Smith and another jumper from Collins to take a six-point lead with under a minute to play. After a three-pointer by Gomez brought the home team back within a possession with 18 seconds left, senior guard Alex Furr scored all four of her points in the game in the final 17 seconds knocking down four free throws to seal the Bulldogs eight consecutive win.
After an open date this weekend, the Bulldogs return to action next Wednesday (Feb. 3) hosting San Jose State (6-14, 4-5 MW) at 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center for Elementary School Night. All elementary school aged kids get into the game for free.
Be Bold" - The official home of the Fresno State women's basketball team is 790ESPN "The Deuce".
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