Gamez creates Houdini act as Bulldogs escape Vegas with 74-72 win over Lady Rebels

Wednesday, January 24

Las Vegas, Nev.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

10-9, 5-3MW

UNLV

10-8, 5-2MW

Fresno State

UNLV

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Gamez creates Houdini act as Bulldogs escape Vegas with 74-72 win over Lady Rebels

1/24/2018 11:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Freshman hits six 3’s, including two in the final 7.2 seconds, in 25-point performance.

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

LAS VEGAS – Trailing by four in the waning seconds, freshman Aly Gamez pulled off her own magical act in Las Vegas, dropping in two 3-pointers in 7.2 seconds to push Fresno State passed co-Mountain West leader UNLV, 74-72, on Wednesday night at Cox Pavilion. This coming on the heels of a career night for the Irving, Texas night as she scored 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting which included a perfect 6-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Candice White and Kristina Cavey joined Gamez in double figures with 12 points and 10 points, respectively. The Lady Rebels were led by trio of Nikki Wheatley (19 points), Brooke Johnson (17) and Katie Powell (17 points and 10 rebounds).

HOW IT HAPPENED
UNLV came out looking to use its height advantage, forcing the ball inside and getting the 'Dogs in some early foul trouble. Trailing at the media break, the Bulldogs switched gears and sped up the game with pressure as they closed the quarter on a 13-2 run to take a 23-16 lead.

Holding a 28-25 advantage with four minutes to play until half, Katelin Noyer scored five straight points and Cavey followed up with a 3 to put the Bulldogs on a 10-4 spurt heading into the locker room. The 'Dogs led 38-29 in the half after outshooting the Lady Rebels by 18.3 percent.

Out of the break, the Lady Rebels began to make their move. UNLV cut its deficit to three with a 9-3 stretch in the early minutes. Five straight free throws though from White put Fresno State back up eight. UNLV answered with a 10-0 run to take its first lead since midway through the opening quarter. A layup from Cavey and a 3-pointer from Gamez followed as the Bulldogs regained the lead and they would take a 53-52 lead into the final quarter.

A 9-0 UNLV run in the opening two-and-a-half minutes vaulted the home team ahead, but Fresno State was without an answer, hitting a 5-0 spurt to counter as Gamez sank her fourth 3-pointer of the game. Back-and-forth, UNLV held a lead until just over a minute was remaining as the 'Dogs tied the game at 68-68 with a 7-0 run.

A jumper and a pair of free throws by UNLV appeared to have put the game out of reach for the 'Dogs with only 20 seconds on the clock. Gamez though turned a broken play into a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds remaining to pull Fresno State back to within one. After a pair of missed free throws from Wheatley with 6.6 seconds on the clock, the freshman point guard raced down the court and rose up with a second on the clock and sank the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.

TEAM NOTES
- Fresno State is 8-0 this season when holding opponents below 40 percent shooting.
- The Bulldogs' bench outscored UNLV's 22-4.
- The 12 made 3-pointers tied a season-high for the Bulldogs as they also made 12 in 3-point win over Weber State on Dec. 20.

PLAYER NOTES
Aly Gamez – 25 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
- Recorded a season-high 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting and 6-of-6 from 3
- The six made 3's was the most by a Bulldog this season.
- Gamez is the fifth Bulldog to score 20 or more points in a game this season.

Candice White – 12 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists
- Third double-double of the season.
- Grabbed career-high 14 rebounds.
- Was 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.

UP NEXT
Fresno State continues two-game road trip on Saturday as the Bulldogs travel to Utah State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT and will air on the Mountain West Network.

"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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