Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs and Broncos clash in WNIT First Round
3/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State begins its ninth straight appearance on Friday as the Bulldogs host Santa in the first round of the Women's NIT. It is the Bulldogs second consecutive appearance in the WNIT and seventh overall. Friday's tipoff at the Save Mart Center is slated for 7 p.m. PT and will stream live on the Mountain West Network with Christian Lukens on the call for 790 EPSN "The Deuce."
GAME INFO
Game #33 • March 18, 2016
Fresno State (21-11, 15-3 MW) vs. Santa Clara (23-8, 13-5 WCC)
7 p.m. PT • Save Mart Center (15,596) • Fresno, Calif.
Video: Mountain West Network • Radio: 790 AM ESPN2 • Live Stats: gobulldogs.com
Series Record: Bulldogs lead 23-15
Last Meeting: Fresno State won 69-46 on Dec., 8 2013 in Fresno, Calif.
Bulldog Bites
This is the program's seventh selection into the WNIT, ninth-straight appearance in a postseason tournament, and 14th postseason appearance overall.
This year will mark Fresno State's second consecutive appearance in the WNIT. The Bulldogs went 1-1 last year in the tournament, defeating San Francisco 79-73 in the first round at the Save Mart Center before falling at Saint Mary's, 83-64.
Fresno State's best records in the WNIT came in 1990, 2003 and 2006 when the team went 2-1.
Fresno State's win versus Utah State in the quarterfinals gave the program its 9th consecutive 20-win season, 17 of those wins have come when holding their opponent to under 60 points.
On March 7, Bego Davalos became the third Bulldog Fresno State's four years in the Mountain West to be selected Defensive Player of the Year (Ki-Ki Moore 2013, Taylor Thompson 2014).
Faz Davalos was also named to the All-MW Team and All-Defensive Team. Toni Smith earned All-MW Honorable Mention and Breanne Knishka was selected to the All-Freshman Team.
With a 15-3 conference record, Fresno State earned its most league wins since winning 16 games the 2009-10 season.
It is the second-most wins in conference play in program history.
• The 14th win of the conference season surpassed the Bulldogs' league win total from each of the team's first three seasons in the Mountain West in which the team recorded 13 wins.
• The 'Dogs were picked fourth in the MW preseason poll, yet finished three-games clear of third place
• 18 of the Bulldogs' 21 wins have come when holding teams to below 60 points.
• 10 of Fresno State's wins in conference came when holding teams to below 55 points, including six which did not reach 50 points.
• Fresno State has overcome a halftime deficit to win eight times this season. All eight occasions occurred in Mountain West games.
• The Bulldogs have recorded 20 double-doubles on the year, which is tied for the third-most in season in program history and first recording 20 or more in a season since 1988-89.
• Fresno State's bench play has been a big component of this season's team as it averages more than 18.9 points per game this season.
• Five Bulldogs are averaging 7.9 or more points per game with Bego Faz Davalos pacing the team 12.4 per game. The five each account for at least 12 percent of the team's total offense.
Glancing at the Individuals
• Sophomore center Bego Faz Davalos leads the Bulldogs is six different stat categories, ranking in the top 15 in the Mountain West in overall games in scoring (11th, 12.4 ppg) rebounding (first, 9.4 rpg), field goal percentage (third, .517), blocked shots (first, 4.0 bpg), offensive rebounds (second, 3.1 rpg) and defensive rebounds (first, 6.3 rpg).
• Faz Davalos' 127 blocks this season broke the Mountain West single-season record of 105, which was set by New Mexico's Jordan Adams during the 2000-01 season.
• Three 'Dogs are averaging double-digits through 32 games (Shauqunna Collins, Bego Davalos and Toni Smith). Fresno State had just one player average double figures last year (Alex Sheedy).
• Through March 11, Faz Davalos ranked second in the NCAA in blocked shots per game (3.97) and first in total blocks (127), 34th in double-doubles (13), 53rd in field goal percentage (51.7) 28th in rebounds (301) and 45th in rebounds per game (9.4). She ranks first in the Mountain West in each category.
• Senior Toni Smith turned it on in conference play, leading the team at 12.2 points per game. She has reached double figures in 16 of the last 20 games.
• Collins is currently at 10.1 points per game. She has reached double figures in 16 of her 29 games.
Series History with Santa Clara
Fresno State is 23-15 all-time against Santa Clara.
The Bulldogs have won five straight games against the Broncos in Fresno, Calif., dating back to 2003.
In the last 10 matchups in the all-time series, the 'Dogs hold an 8-2 record.
A Look at Santa Clara
Santa Clara is 23-8 overall and tied for third in the West Coast Conference at 13-5.
The Broncos reached the semifinals of the WCC Tournament before falling to BYU, 87-67.
Santa Clara's biggest win of the season came on Nov. 23 when the Broncos won at then-No. 13/10 Stanford, 61-58.
One of the top defenses in the WCC, ranking second in scoring defense (58.4 ppg), first in field goal percentage defense (.366), fourth in 3-point percentage defense (.302), second in blocks (3.6 bpg) and first in steals (12.8 spg).
The Broncos are led by the trio of Lori Parkinson (11.7), Marie Bertholdt (11.4) and Morgan McGwire (10.1) who average just over half of the team's 65.9 points per game.
Santa Clara's next three players (Savanna Hanson, Taylor Berry and Devin Hudson) all average betwen 7.2-7.8 points per game.
Leading From the Block
• After leading Mexico at the World University Games during the summer, 6-foot-3 Bego Faz Davalos has quickly become Fresno State's most versatile player. She ranks first on the team in points per game (12.4), rebounds per game (9.4), blocks per game (4.0), assists per game (2.6) and field goal percentage (51.7).
• She has recorded 13 double-doubles in 32 games which ranks 34th nationally.
• With a career-high 10 blocks versus Cal State Stanislaus, Faz Davalos moved to third in career blocks at Fresno State.
• Her 127 blocks ranks first nationally, while 3.97 blocks pere game rank second.
• In MW games she ranked in the top 20 in scoring (17th), rebounding (third), field goal percentage (first), assists (12th), blocks (first), assist/turnover ratio (14th), offensive rebounds (ninth) and defensive rebounds (second).
• Faz Davalos has twice been named MW Player of the Week, with both coming during the conference season.
Bego Blocks
• Through 32 games, Bego Faz Davalos has blocked 127 shots, passing her total of 96 from the 2014-15 season (33 games).
• Her 106th block of the season, which came at Air Force on Feb 24, broke the Mountain West single season record for blocked shots. The record was previously was set by New Mexico's Jordan Adams with 105 during the 2000-01 season.
• The 127 blocks is the third best single-season season total in Bulldog history.
• Faz Davalos is third in school history in career blocks with 223.
• Last season, her 70 blocks in conference games broke the MW record for most blocks in a single season for conference games only, which was previously 52.
• With two blocks at Colorado State on March 1, Faz Davalos supassed her conference games-only record, setting a new mark of 72. She finished the season with 77.
• Faz Davalos ranks a third among active leaders in career blocked shot average at 3.43.
• On March 7, she became the third Bulldog to be selected MW Defensive Player of the Year in the last four years (Ki-Ki Moore 2013, Taylor Thompson 2014).
Final Months
• Known for being a 3-point shooter, sixth-year senior Alex Furr has found her touch as of late. She had just 17 through the first 19 games of the season, yet has more than doubled that total after hitting 29 in the last 13 games.
• With her second 3-pointer of the day at Utah State on Feb. 20, Furr moved into sole possession of ninth place in the Fresno State record book for career made 3s. She is currently at 139, eight behind Chantella Perera for eighth.
No Fly Zone
• The Bulldogs rank 21st nationally in blocked shots per game, averaging 5.3 per contest and are 18th in total blocks with 171.
• A big piece of Fresno State's interior defense is Bego Faz Davalos who ranks second in the nation in blocks with 127.
Lockdown
• In MW play, Fresno State locked down on defense, ranking in the top four in the conference in MW games in scoring defense (second, 55.1 ppg), field goal percentage defense (second, .349) and 3-point percentage defense (third, .274).
• In non-conference games, Fresno State allowed teams to score 65.6 points per game, and shoot 39.5 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from three.
Erasing Deficits
• Despite a 13-2 record in the Mountain West, the Bulldogs have seen themselves trailing at halftime in more than half of their games. The 'Dogs though have seemed to flip a switch in second halves this season as they are 8-0 in conference play when trailing at the half.
Right on Cue
Senior forward Toni Smith has posted double-digit scoring games in 15-of-18 conference games. Last season, she had recorded double-figures in 12-of-18 conference games.
The consitency helped Smith earn All-MW Honorable Mention in 2016.
After posting double figures in four of the first five games of the season, Smith hadn't posted a double-digit scoring game until Jan. 2 at New Mexico before going on a stretch of nine straight double figure games.
She is the Bulldogs top scorer in conference play at 12.2 points per game.
On Feb. 17, the senior eclipsed the 20-point mark for the first time in her career after posting 21 points as she helped the 'Dogs erase a 16-point first-quarter deficit.
On Feb. 22, Smith earned her first Mountain West Player of the Week honor after averaging 18 points and eight rebounds in games against Wyoming and Utah State.
Balanced Scoring
During the 2014-15 season, Fresno State had at least four players score in double digits just five times. Through 32 games this season, the 'Dogs have had four players record double figures in a single game on 10 occasions.
Against Washington on Nov. 20, Fresno State had five players post double figures in the scoring column.
Three 'Dogs currently average double figures with Shauqunna Collins at 10.1, Bego Faz Davalos at 12.4 and Toni Smith at 10.8. Last season, Fresno State had just one player average double figures.
Reversal of Fortune
Prior to MW play, Fresno State was 1-5 in games decided by 10 points or less and 0-3 in games decided by five points or less. The Bulldogs though have reversed their fortunes with start of conference play. In their first eight games, the 'Dogs played seven games that were decided by 10 games or less, going 7-0 in those games.
On Feb. 3, the Bulldogs lost their first game by 10 points or less in conference play, falling to San Jose State 66-64.
The Bulldogs got back on track on close games after that, going 6-1 since in games decided by 10 points or less.
Fresno State is 14-7 on the year in games decided by 10 points or less.
Providing Support
Fresno State's bench scoring has played a pivotal role for the team this season, as the Bulldogs are 16-5 on the year when their bench outscores their opponents' bench.
Fresno State's bench has only been outscored in six games this season, with five resulting in losses (at UC Riverside, George Washington, at Cal Poly, San Jose State, at San Diego State, vs. Colorado State). The lone win came at San Jose State.
The Bulldog bench has scored a total 601 points this season. The bench has accounted for 18.9 points per game.
Tested
While Fresno State may have gone 4-7 in the non-conference season, the strength of that schedule has already proved to be a benefit as the team has finished conference play with a 15-3 record.
As of March 13, Fresno State's non-conference strength of schedule was ranked No. 17.
Six of Fresno State's seven non-conference losses came to teams who have an RPI below 88.
Double Down
The Bulldogs have recorded 20 double-doubles on the year, which is tied for the third-most in season in program history and first recording 20 or more in a season since 1988-89.
The most double-doubles by a player in a season is 13 which has occurred four times (Bego Faz Davalos, 2015-16; Yvette Roberts, 1988-89; Omelogo Udeze, 2000-01; Janee Young, 1996-97)
Bego Faz Davalos is looking to surpass the single-season mark as she has posted 13 double-doubles so far.
