Fresno State Athletics
Wednesday, January 3
Fresno, Calif.
7 p.m. PT
Fresno State
vs
Utah State
Photo by: Keith Kountz
'Dogs host Utah State in MW home opener
1/2/2018 1:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on Wednesday at Save Mart Center.
Game 14: Fresno State (6-7, 1-1) vs. Utah State (3-10, 1-1)
Jan. 3, 2018 – 7 p.m. PT – Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Video:Â Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Series History:Â Fresno State leads 17-3
Last Meeting:Â Utah State won 52-47 on Jan. 28, 2017 in Fresno, Calif.
Opening Tip
• Fresno State returns home this week for its Mountain West home opener on Wednesday against Utah State.
• The Bulldogs have lost just three games ever to the Aggies after last season's defeat came 10 years after the previous loss.
• Wednesday night's game will stream live on the Mountain West Network, while Wednesday's contest will air on 790 AM ESPN2.
Bulldog Bones
• Fresno State is 1-1 to start Mountain West play for the second straight season.
• The Bulldogs are coming off of its toughest season in the Mountain West, finishing 8-10 and seventh in league play in 2017. The team was picked to finish in the same spot when this year's preseason poll was released in November.
• The 'Dogs finished its nonconference slate with a 4-2 stretch after starting the season 1-4.
• Since the start of December, Fresno State is averaging just over 70 points per game.
• The Bulldogs have scored 81 points three times this season. It is the first time since the 2013-14 season that the 'Dogs have eclipsed the 80-point barrier more than once in a season. The 2013-14 team scored 80-plus on three occasions.
• Candice White has scored in double figures in 12 out of 13 games this season. The junior guard is coming off of back-to-back 20-point games and leads the conference in scoring at 17.3 per game.
• White is the only player in the nation to still be perfect from the free-throw line (51-of-51). Her streak of 51 made free throws ranks first in the country, and is tied for the 6th-longest single season streak in Division I history.
• Fresno State's quartet of freshmen have accounted for 35 starts this season and rank second, third, fourth and seventh on the team in total points.
Fresno State vs. Utah State
• The Bulldogs are 17-3 all-time against the Aggies.
• Utah State won last season's only matchup with Fresno State, defeating the 'Dogs 52-47 on Jan. 28, 2017.
• The loss snapped Fresno State's 16-game winning streak against the Aggies. I
• It was Utah State's first-ever win in Fresno as its previous two wins in the series coming in Logan.
• The Bulldogs are 10-1 at home in the all-time series.
A look at Utah State
• Utah State is 3-10 overall and 1-1 to start conference play.
• Like the Bulldogs, the Aggies also won their second of two games during the first week of the conference season, defeating San Diego State 62-58 at home.
• Sophomore Olivia West ranks fourth in the MW in scoring at 15.8 points per game. Junior Rachel Brewster is also average double figures for the Aggies at 10.6.
• Center Shannon Dufficy ranks third in the conference in rebounding with 8.9 per contest.
Finding their rhythm
After starting the season 1-4, the Bulldogs have hit their stride, picking up five of their six wins during the last eight games while averaging 70.3 points per game during that span.
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• During the last six games (4-2), Fresno State's four consistent starters (Candice White, Maddi Utti, Aly Gamez, Breanne Knishka) have accounted for 44.6 points per game.
• Bree Delaney, a starter early in the year, has come off of the bench to average 10.5 points per contest in the last six.
• Fresno State has shot 41.2 percent from 3 with junior Breanne Knishka finding her shooting touch to lead the team at 56.5 percent (13-of-23) during the last six games.
Spurtability
Fresno State has shown this season that it has the ability to put together significant runs against its opponents. In six of their 13 games, the Bulldogs have had stretches where they have outscored teams by at least 15 points.
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• Against Eastern Washington (21-4 in 7 minutes) and Pacific (24-9 in 9 minutes), the 'Dogs used significant stretches to put distance between them and their opponents.
• Fresno State used a 16-point difference to versus Montana (27-11 in 11 minutes) to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit to win by three.
• The Bulldogs also nearly erased 20-plus point deficits against CSUN (22-2 in 6 minutes) and San Francisco (23-4 in 9 minutes).
• At Air Force, the 'Dogs had two such runs in the first two quarters (19-3 in 8 minutes, 23-6 in 10 minutes).
It's always FREE
Somewhat of a lost art in today's game, the free throw line has become a spot of consistency for Candice White. After putting together free throw streaks of 15, 16 and 18 during the 2016-17 season, Candice White has gone above and beyond those marks to open this season, more than doubling her previous-best streak. Through Dec. 30, the junior has strung together 51 made attempts. White's 51 straight free throws this season is tied for the sixth-longest streak in a single season in Division I history.
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• Dating back to last season, White has made 57 straight free throws which is tied for sixth in Division I history.
• The 57 is tied for the 10th-longest across all three NCAA divisions.
• White stands alone atop the nation's free-throw percentage leaderboard (100%) as no other player is perfect this season from the line.
• White was 18-of-18 through five games last year, missing her first attempt on Nov. 30, 2016.
Playing from behind
Not something teams want to do, the Bulldogs have found themselves playing from behind more often than not during the nonconference season. In all six of Fresno State's losses, the 'Dogs have trailed after the first quarter. Fresno State is 1-6 this season when trailing after the opening quarter. In those seven games, the 'Dogs have trailed by an average of 7.0 points after the first 10 minutes.
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• In five of the Bulldogs' seven losses, they have trailed by 12 points or more at the half.
• The 'Dogs have won once this season when trailing after 20 minutes (15 points against Montana).
• Through 13 games, Fresno State has gone into the half facing an average deficit of 4.4 points.
Second-half player
A possible reason for the team's slow starts has been the play of preseason all-conference selection Candice White. This season, the junior had found herself struggling in the first half games during the nonconference season, averaging just 5.3 points in the first half, but that number jumped to 11.2 during second half.
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• Looking at shooting percentages, White was 24.4 percent from the field and 18.5 percent from 3 during the first half but has coming nearly doubling her percentage from the field at 44.2 percent and more than doubling her percentage from 3 at 45.5 percent during the second half.
• With the start of conference, White flipped her numbers, scoring 30 of 44 points during the first two games.
Unquestioned leader
In her third season at Fresno State, and second as a starter, Candice White has become the unquestioned leader for the Bulldogs through her work ethic and production on the court. Whether it's been calmly sinking one free throw after another or exploding for double-digit points in a quarter, White has been the engine that has helped Fresno State run this season. As of Dec. 30, the junior leads the Mountain West in scoring at 17.3 points per game and has tallied double figures in 12 of 13 games this season.
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• In 2016-17, White's 489 points scored was the 10th-most in a single season at Fresno State. She is currently on pace to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for her career this season.
• In the Bulldogs' game at CSUN on Dec. 2, White poured in a career-high 34 points, the first 30-point game for a 'Dog since Raven Fox scored 31 at San Diego on Nov. 28, 2014. The total was two shy of the program record for points in a game.
• On Dec. 20, White twice scored the go-ahead points versus Weber State, including knocking down the game-winning 3-pointer in a tie game with 2.1 seconds on the clock.
• On three occasions this season, White has scored 20-plus points in a half.
• White is currently the only player in the NCAA to be perfect from the free-throw line (51-of-51).
• Nationally, White finished the 2016-17 season ranked No. 15 in free throw percentage in the NCAA at 87.7 percent (100-of-114) and No. 37 in 3-point percentage at 40.1 (69-of-172), and is 11th and 24th, respectively, among returners. The 87.7 percent was the highest free-throw percentage in a single season at Fresno State.
Reinforcement on the way
To bolster this year's roster, and add more experience, Fresno State added graduate transfer Tia Elbert on Dec. 7. The Minnesota product made her Bulldog debut late against Nevada on Dec. 28.
• Elbert played in a reserve role in her one season at Indiana, averaging 1.5 points in 6.7 minutes per game. The 5-foot-7 guard sat out the 2015-16 season after transferring from Marquette following her freshman season.
 • In one season with the Golden Eagles, Elbert started 22 games while playing in all 30. She was third on the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game in 26.7 minutes. She led Marquette with 3.1 assists and the 1.1 steals per contest.
• Elbert was a four-star prospect and the No. 94-ranked player by ESPN in the Class of 2014. She left Tartan High School ranked seventh in career points in Minnesota girls' high school basketball history with 3,501. A two-time First Team All-State selection, she averaged 36.4 points per game as a senior in 2013-14.
Mix and match
Due to the youth on this year's team, sticking with one consistent lineup was going to take time. Throw in injuries and lineup changes have become a very common occurrence for the 'Dogs this season. In five of the first seven games, Fresno State trotted out a new-look starting five. For games eight through 11, the Bulldogs have used the same lineup (Gamez, White, Knishka, Utti, Ogier).
Not your typical freshmen
With four freshmen who came in ready to compete from the start this season, head coach Jaime White has thrown her newest group into the fire allowing them to learn on the fly. Fresno State's four freshmen Bree Delaney, Genna Ogier, Maddi Utti and Aly Gamez are collectively averaging 22.2 minutes per game.
• Utti, Delaney and Gamez are averaging 28.5, 22.5 and 22.3 minutes per game, respectively, while Ogier is averaging 15.3.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogschoarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
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Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram:Â fresnostwbb
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Jan. 3, 2018 – 7 p.m. PT – Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Video:Â Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Series History:Â Fresno State leads 17-3
Last Meeting:Â Utah State won 52-47 on Jan. 28, 2017 in Fresno, Calif.
Opening Tip
• Fresno State returns home this week for its Mountain West home opener on Wednesday against Utah State.
• The Bulldogs have lost just three games ever to the Aggies after last season's defeat came 10 years after the previous loss.
• Wednesday night's game will stream live on the Mountain West Network, while Wednesday's contest will air on 790 AM ESPN2.
Bulldog Bones
• Fresno State is 1-1 to start Mountain West play for the second straight season.
• The Bulldogs are coming off of its toughest season in the Mountain West, finishing 8-10 and seventh in league play in 2017. The team was picked to finish in the same spot when this year's preseason poll was released in November.
• The 'Dogs finished its nonconference slate with a 4-2 stretch after starting the season 1-4.
• Since the start of December, Fresno State is averaging just over 70 points per game.
• The Bulldogs have scored 81 points three times this season. It is the first time since the 2013-14 season that the 'Dogs have eclipsed the 80-point barrier more than once in a season. The 2013-14 team scored 80-plus on three occasions.
• Candice White has scored in double figures in 12 out of 13 games this season. The junior guard is coming off of back-to-back 20-point games and leads the conference in scoring at 17.3 per game.
• White is the only player in the nation to still be perfect from the free-throw line (51-of-51). Her streak of 51 made free throws ranks first in the country, and is tied for the 6th-longest single season streak in Division I history.
• Fresno State's quartet of freshmen have accounted for 35 starts this season and rank second, third, fourth and seventh on the team in total points.
Fresno State vs. Utah State
• The Bulldogs are 17-3 all-time against the Aggies.
• Utah State won last season's only matchup with Fresno State, defeating the 'Dogs 52-47 on Jan. 28, 2017.
• The loss snapped Fresno State's 16-game winning streak against the Aggies. I
• It was Utah State's first-ever win in Fresno as its previous two wins in the series coming in Logan.
• The Bulldogs are 10-1 at home in the all-time series.
A look at Utah State
• Utah State is 3-10 overall and 1-1 to start conference play.
• Like the Bulldogs, the Aggies also won their second of two games during the first week of the conference season, defeating San Diego State 62-58 at home.
• Sophomore Olivia West ranks fourth in the MW in scoring at 15.8 points per game. Junior Rachel Brewster is also average double figures for the Aggies at 10.6.
• Center Shannon Dufficy ranks third in the conference in rebounding with 8.9 per contest.
Finding their rhythm
After starting the season 1-4, the Bulldogs have hit their stride, picking up five of their six wins during the last eight games while averaging 70.3 points per game during that span.
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• During the last six games (4-2), Fresno State's four consistent starters (Candice White, Maddi Utti, Aly Gamez, Breanne Knishka) have accounted for 44.6 points per game.
• Bree Delaney, a starter early in the year, has come off of the bench to average 10.5 points per contest in the last six.
• Fresno State has shot 41.2 percent from 3 with junior Breanne Knishka finding her shooting touch to lead the team at 56.5 percent (13-of-23) during the last six games.
Spurtability
Fresno State has shown this season that it has the ability to put together significant runs against its opponents. In six of their 13 games, the Bulldogs have had stretches where they have outscored teams by at least 15 points.
Â
• Against Eastern Washington (21-4 in 7 minutes) and Pacific (24-9 in 9 minutes), the 'Dogs used significant stretches to put distance between them and their opponents.
• Fresno State used a 16-point difference to versus Montana (27-11 in 11 minutes) to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit to win by three.
• The Bulldogs also nearly erased 20-plus point deficits against CSUN (22-2 in 6 minutes) and San Francisco (23-4 in 9 minutes).
• At Air Force, the 'Dogs had two such runs in the first two quarters (19-3 in 8 minutes, 23-6 in 10 minutes).
It's always FREE
Somewhat of a lost art in today's game, the free throw line has become a spot of consistency for Candice White. After putting together free throw streaks of 15, 16 and 18 during the 2016-17 season, Candice White has gone above and beyond those marks to open this season, more than doubling her previous-best streak. Through Dec. 30, the junior has strung together 51 made attempts. White's 51 straight free throws this season is tied for the sixth-longest streak in a single season in Division I history.
Â
• Dating back to last season, White has made 57 straight free throws which is tied for sixth in Division I history.
• The 57 is tied for the 10th-longest across all three NCAA divisions.
• White stands alone atop the nation's free-throw percentage leaderboard (100%) as no other player is perfect this season from the line.
• White was 18-of-18 through five games last year, missing her first attempt on Nov. 30, 2016.
Playing from behind
Not something teams want to do, the Bulldogs have found themselves playing from behind more often than not during the nonconference season. In all six of Fresno State's losses, the 'Dogs have trailed after the first quarter. Fresno State is 1-6 this season when trailing after the opening quarter. In those seven games, the 'Dogs have trailed by an average of 7.0 points after the first 10 minutes.
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• In five of the Bulldogs' seven losses, they have trailed by 12 points or more at the half.
• The 'Dogs have won once this season when trailing after 20 minutes (15 points against Montana).
• Through 13 games, Fresno State has gone into the half facing an average deficit of 4.4 points.
Second-half player
A possible reason for the team's slow starts has been the play of preseason all-conference selection Candice White. This season, the junior had found herself struggling in the first half games during the nonconference season, averaging just 5.3 points in the first half, but that number jumped to 11.2 during second half.
Â
• Looking at shooting percentages, White was 24.4 percent from the field and 18.5 percent from 3 during the first half but has coming nearly doubling her percentage from the field at 44.2 percent and more than doubling her percentage from 3 at 45.5 percent during the second half.
• With the start of conference, White flipped her numbers, scoring 30 of 44 points during the first two games.
Unquestioned leader
In her third season at Fresno State, and second as a starter, Candice White has become the unquestioned leader for the Bulldogs through her work ethic and production on the court. Whether it's been calmly sinking one free throw after another or exploding for double-digit points in a quarter, White has been the engine that has helped Fresno State run this season. As of Dec. 30, the junior leads the Mountain West in scoring at 17.3 points per game and has tallied double figures in 12 of 13 games this season.
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• In 2016-17, White's 489 points scored was the 10th-most in a single season at Fresno State. She is currently on pace to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for her career this season.
• In the Bulldogs' game at CSUN on Dec. 2, White poured in a career-high 34 points, the first 30-point game for a 'Dog since Raven Fox scored 31 at San Diego on Nov. 28, 2014. The total was two shy of the program record for points in a game.
• On Dec. 20, White twice scored the go-ahead points versus Weber State, including knocking down the game-winning 3-pointer in a tie game with 2.1 seconds on the clock.
• On three occasions this season, White has scored 20-plus points in a half.
• White is currently the only player in the NCAA to be perfect from the free-throw line (51-of-51).
• Nationally, White finished the 2016-17 season ranked No. 15 in free throw percentage in the NCAA at 87.7 percent (100-of-114) and No. 37 in 3-point percentage at 40.1 (69-of-172), and is 11th and 24th, respectively, among returners. The 87.7 percent was the highest free-throw percentage in a single season at Fresno State.
Reinforcement on the way
To bolster this year's roster, and add more experience, Fresno State added graduate transfer Tia Elbert on Dec. 7. The Minnesota product made her Bulldog debut late against Nevada on Dec. 28.
• Elbert played in a reserve role in her one season at Indiana, averaging 1.5 points in 6.7 minutes per game. The 5-foot-7 guard sat out the 2015-16 season after transferring from Marquette following her freshman season.
 • In one season with the Golden Eagles, Elbert started 22 games while playing in all 30. She was third on the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game in 26.7 minutes. She led Marquette with 3.1 assists and the 1.1 steals per contest.
• Elbert was a four-star prospect and the No. 94-ranked player by ESPN in the Class of 2014. She left Tartan High School ranked seventh in career points in Minnesota girls' high school basketball history with 3,501. A two-time First Team All-State selection, she averaged 36.4 points per game as a senior in 2013-14.
Mix and match
Due to the youth on this year's team, sticking with one consistent lineup was going to take time. Throw in injuries and lineup changes have become a very common occurrence for the 'Dogs this season. In five of the first seven games, Fresno State trotted out a new-look starting five. For games eight through 11, the Bulldogs have used the same lineup (Gamez, White, Knishka, Utti, Ogier).
Not your typical freshmen
With four freshmen who came in ready to compete from the start this season, head coach Jaime White has thrown her newest group into the fire allowing them to learn on the fly. Fresno State's four freshmen Bree Delaney, Genna Ogier, Maddi Utti and Aly Gamez are collectively averaging 22.2 minutes per game.
• Utti, Delaney and Gamez are averaging 28.5, 22.5 and 22.3 minutes per game, respectively, while Ogier is averaging 15.3.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogschoarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Â
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram:Â fresnostwbb
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Players Mentioned
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