Fresno State holds off CSU Bakersfield’s comeback bid for 77-66 victory

Wednesday, March 14

Bakersfield, Calif.

7 p.m. PT

Fresno State

17-14

CSU Bakersfield

18-14

Fresno State

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Fresno State holds off CSU Bakersfield’s comeback bid for 77-66 victory

3/14/2018 10:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Justin Clark / Communications Intern

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Fresno State staved off a furious 15-2 fourth-quarter run at CSU Bakersfield on Wednesday night at the Icardo Center in the first round of the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitational. The Bulldogs were in complete control through three quarters as they led 58-45 heading into the fourth, but the Roadrunners tied the game at 60 points apiece with 4:47 remaining before Candice White took over the game down the stretch, scoring of 11 of the team's final 17 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State's offense exploded in the first quarter. The Bulldogs drained six 3-point field goals, their most in any quarter this season, and shot 9-of-16 from the field overall. CSU Bakersfield also had a solid offensive quarter. The Roadrunners were 8-of-16 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Fresno State led 26-19 heading into the second quarter.

Both offenses came back down to earth in the second. The Bulldogs' struggled to the tune of 17 points on 4-of-15 from the field. CSUB wasn't any better as the Roadrunners shot 33 percent and only managed 13 points, as the 'Dogs took a 43-32 advantage into the locker room.

Fresno State's first half was keyed by a 14-4 run from the 1:26 mark of the first to the 7:29 mark of the second. The run was headlined by three 3-pointers (Porter, Cavey, Gamez) and an and-one by Kristina Cavey.

Cavey had 10 points in only 10 minutes off the Bulldog bench to lead the offense along with White, who also had 10 points to go along with four rebounds and three steals.

Again the offenses stalled a bit in the third quarter. Fresno State shot just 5-of-20 from the floor to tally 15 points. The Bulldogs went 5:25 without a bucket in the frame as CSU Bakersfield closed to within five after a 6-0 run. The Roadrunners were efficient in the frame as they made 56 percent of their attempts but CSUB put up 11 less shot attempts than the Bulldogs. The 'Dogs closed the period on a 6-0 run, which was capped by a 3-pointer by Candice White at the buzzer as they led 58-45 going into the fourth.

CSU Bakersfield began the final quarter on a 15-2 run to tie the game up at 60 apiece with just under five minutes remaining. But Candice White would provide the answer as she scored eight consecutive Bulldog points. The 'Dogs held a 68-62 lead with 1:46 left. Fresno State was able to remain calm and break the CSUB press down the stretch to hold on for a 77-66 victory to advance to the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational.

Candice White finished with a game-high 29 points on 8-of-14 shooting.

Fresno State will host the winner of UC Irvine versus Nevada on Monday, March 19 at 7 p.m.

TEAM NOTES
- Fresno State outrebounded CSU Bakersfield 42-39. The 'Dogs are 10-0 on the year when outrebounding their opponent.
- The Bulldogs outshot the Roadrunners by 10 percent (46 percent vs. 36 percent).
- The 'Dogs dished out 15 assists compared to CSUB's eight.
- Fresno State's bench outscored the Roadrunner bench 23-19.
- The 'Dogs made six 3-pointers in the first quarter, the most made in one quarter this season.
- The Bulldogs had two players play all 40 minutes in Maddi Utti and Candice White. It marks the first time two players have played all 40 minutes in regulation this season.

PLAYER NOTES
Candice White – 29 points (game-high), 5 rebounds, 3 steals
- Shot 8-of-14 from the floor.
- Drained 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.
- Swiped a team-high three steals.

Kristina Cavey – 15 points, 6 rebounds
- Shot 5-of-12 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
- Finished second on the team with six boards.
- Scored 15 points in only 22 minutes.

Aly Gamez – 12 points, 5 assists, 2 steals
- Made 4-of-7 from the floor.
- Poured in 2-of-4 from 3-point range.

QUOTES
Head Coach Jamie White on Candice White down the stretch…
"She really put it on her shoulders at the end there which was great to see."

Head Coach Jamie White on handling CSU Bakersfield's pressure in the fourth quarter…
"They were trapping us in the corners and we were getting stuck a little bit. But I thought everybody did a good job being available and open so we could make those passes. We just didn't turn the ball over. We got a little bit of a lead and then I felt like we were pretty safe, especially if they were going to foul Candice."

Head Coach Jamie White on her outlook during the WBI…
"We're pretending like this is our NCAA Tournament. It's just a game against somebody, that's the way I see it. The goal is to keep winning, keep getting that experience playing whatever team it is and keep working on us to get better for this year, next year and the following year."

NEXT UP
Fresno State will host the winner of Nevada versus UC Irvine in the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational on Monday, March 19 at 7 p.m.

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