'Dogs open MW play versus New Mexico

Game 12: Fresno State (7-4) vs. New Mexico (4-6)
December 29, 2016 -- 7 p.m. PT -- Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Series History: Fresno State leads 10-9
Next Up: at Nevada (Dec. 31 • 2 p.m. PT), at Wyoming (Jan. 4 • 5:30 p.m. PT)

Opening Tip

• Fresno State opens Mountain West play on Thursday night as the Bulldogs host New Mexico. It marks the second time in the last three years that the 'Dogs will host the Lobos to open conference play.

• With a change in scheduling to accommodate the holiday season, MW teams will receive one day of rest, instead of two, prior to its second game of the conference season. Fresno State will play at Nevada in its second game of conference play on Saturday.

Bulldog Bones

• Junior Bego Faz Davalos ranks in the top 10 in the NCAA in six stat categories. The 6-foot-3 center leads the country in blocks per game (4.2), ranks second in double-doubles (9) and total blocks (46), third in triple-doubles (1), and sixth in rebounds per game (11.9) and defensive rebounds per game (8.0).

• Faz Davalos is one of two players in the NCAA to average at least 16 points and 11 rebounds.

• Faz Davalos leads the Bulldogs in points (16.3), rebounds (11.9), assists (3.1) and blocks (4.2) per game. Sophomore Candice White leads the team in steals (1.8), is second in points (14.2) and third rebounds (5.5) per game.

• Fresno State is ninth nationally in least committed fouls. The 'Dogs commit just 13.7 personal fouls per game.

• The 'Dogs rank 16th in the NCAA in blocked shots per game (6.2).

• The Bulldogs are 7-0 this season when scoring at least 60 points.

• Fresno State is 12-6 during the month of December during Jaime White's tenure.

• Under Jaime White, the Bulldogs have made a habit of starting strong in conference once the calendar turns to conference play. Fresno State is 17-0 in MW play during December and January under White.

Series history with New Mexico

• Fresno State holds a 10-9 edge over New Mexico in the all-time series.

• The Bulldogs regained its lead in the series by sweeping last year's contests.

• Fresno State is 7-1 at home against the Lobos, with its only loss coming in 1999.

• Since 2013, only one of eight meetings has been decided by double digits.

• The Bulldogs are 6-2 against the Lobos since joining the Mountain West.

A look at New Mexico

• New Mexico enters Thursday's game with a 4-6 record and have gone 2-2 prior to conference play after dropping four straight games to end the month of November.

• UNM is 0-3 away from The Pit this season and have been outscored by an average of 9.7 points in those games.

• The Lobos are averaging 68.6 points per game, outscoring opponents by 3.7.

• Junior Cherise Beynon ranks fifth in the NCAA in assists per game with 7.6. The guard is also second on the Lobos in points (14.2) and rebounds (8.0) per game.

• 6-foot-5 graduate transfer Richelle van der Keijl leads the Lobos in both scoring and rebounding as she averages a double-double with 15.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

• Van der Keijl's 10.6 rebounds per game ranks 17th nationally.

• New Mexico ranks fifth in the NCAA in rebounding, grabbing 47.3 per game. UNM hauls down the majority of its rebounds on the defensive end, recording a NCAA-best 34.0 per game.

• Like Fresno State, the Lobos are one of the least foul-prone teams in the country, committing just 13.9 per game which ranks 17th nationally.

Starting conference on a high note

• Since Jaime White took over at Fresno State her teams have made a habit of turning up its play when the conference season starts. The Bulldogs have won both of its conference openers under White and went on to go undefeated during the month of January.

• Her teams are a combined 17-0 in MW play during the December and January.

Chasing 60

• With the strength of Jaime White's teams being on the defensive side of the ball, a benchmark for its offense has been to score 60 points. Under White, Fresno State has won 73.5 percent of those games (36-13). The Bulldogs' record when scoring between 60-69 points is 23-10.

• This season, the 'Dogs have won each of its games when scoring more than 60 points (7-0).

Holding teams down

• The Bulldogs have held its opponents to 60 points or less in six of its seven wins.

• Only one team has scored more than 70 points against the 'Dogs this season (Washington, 85). Fresno State allowed four teams to score more than 80 during the 2015-16 season. All four games resulted in losses. Washington scored the most of any Bulldog opponent that season (89).

Same player, new year

• It may be another year but junior Bego Faz Davalos hadn't seen a drop off from last year. Through 11 games, the center's numbers are on par or slightly up from last season as she is averaging 16.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.2 blocks, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals.

• Faz Davalos leads the Bulldogs in points, rebounds, blocks, assists, and is second in steals.

• She ranks second nationally in double-doubles with nine and ranks third in program history with 25.

• Faz Davalos has registered double figures scoring in 23 of her last 24 games.

• She has recorded at least seven blocked shots in four games this season.

• With nine double-doubles this season, she is five away from tying the single-season school record which she set during the 2015-16 season.

Time to shine

• After playing in 11 games as a freshman, and logging 6.3 minutes per game, Candice White leads team in minutes (32.8), is second in points (14.2) and is third in rebounds (5.5).

• The sophomore leads the team in steals per game (1.8). White has swiped three or more steals in four games, including a career-high five against CSU Dominguez Hills.

• She has reached double figures in nine of 11 games.

• White has recorded three of the team's top five scoring performances this season, career-high 21-point games versus UC Irvine and CSU Dominguez Hills, and 19-point showing at No. 13 Washington on Dec. 4.

• In conference, White is seventh in scoring (14.3), second in free-throw percentage (88.9), fifth in steals (2.0), sixth in 3-point field goals made per game (1.9), and second in minutes played (32.9).

Taking charity

• Prior to missing three free throws versus CSU Dominguez Hills, sophomore Candice White ranked fourth nationally in free-throw percentage. She is currently No. 21 at 89.5 percent (34-of-38).

• White opened the season with 18 consecutive free throws which is the most on record to start a season by a Bulldog dating back to the 1983-84 season. Records are not available prior to the 1983-84 season.

• Fellow sophomore Breanne Knishka has only missed two free throws on the year (15-of-17), but she does not meet the required number of attempts for an NCAA ranking.

Access denied

• Bego Faz Davalos currently leads the NCAA in blocked shots per game (4.5).

• On Nov. 18 versus CSUN, the 6-foot-3 center tied her career high with 10 blocks. Both 10-block games resulted in triple-doubles.

• She has four more blocks this season than she did last year through the first 10 games.

• Faz Davalos' 45 blocks ranks first in the NCAA in total blocks.

• Her 3.60 blocked shots per game in her career is second among NCAA active leaders.

• With Faz Davalos' help, the 'Dogs rank No. 10 in the NCAA in blocks per game (6.5) and No. 7 in total blocks (65).

• Fresno State has posted double-digit block totals twice this season, with 13 against CSUN and 12 versus CSU Dominguez Hills.

Quick starts...slow finishes

• Fresno State has shown this season that starting quick has been a part of its DNA. The Bulldogs have reached at least 30 points in the first half in seven of its nine games this season. This has resulted in the 'Dogs oustscoring opponents by 57 points.

• The Bulldogs, though, have struggled to maintain those quick starts in several of their games. The 'Dogs have shot 6.7 percent lower from the field and 7.3 percent lower from 3 during the second half this season. The result has been being outscored 20 points.

Erasing deficits

• Heading into its last game of nonconference play, Fresno State was 0-3 when trailing at the half. The Bulldogs reversed that trend at Weber State, turning a six-point halftime deficit into a three-point win.

• It was Fresno State's 14th win since the 2014-15 season when trailing at the half (14-16).

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'Dogs open MW play versus New Mexico

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Players Mentioned

Bego Faz Davalos

Breanne Knishka

Candice White

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs open MW play versus New Mexico

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bego Faz Davalos

Breanne Knishka

Candice White

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