'Dogs head down I-5 to face San Diego State on Wednesday night

Game 17: Fresno State (11-5, 4-1 MW) at San Diego State (6-9, 1-3 MW)
Jan. 23, 2019 – 6:30 p.m. PT – San Diego, Calif. (Viejas Arena)
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: S tatbroadcast
Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
Series History: San Diego State leads 27-21
Last Meeting: Last Meeting: FS won 66-60 on Feb. 7, 2018 in San Diego, Calif.
Up Next: vs. Colorado State (Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. PT)

Bulldog Bones

Fresno State has opened Mountain West play 4-1, the first time since the 2013-14 season. That year, the Bulldogs finished second in the league standings at 13-5 and went on to win the conference tournament.
The Bulldogs are averaging 72.1 points per game, the first time they have averaged over 70 points since the 2013-14 season.
Fresno State has scored at least 65 points in each of its four conference wins but was held to just 60 in its one loss.
Fresno State's double-digit scoring trio has remained the same from a year ago: Aly Gamez (10.3 ppg), Maddi Utti (11.3 ppg) and Candice White (19.0 ppg).
Reaching double figures in scoring in all but one game this season, Candice White leads the MW in scoring by 2.8 points per game. With four 20-point outings in five conference games, the senior is averaging 23.0 points in MW games.
Candice White (1,411 points) needs 16 points to pass Rosie Moult and move into sixth on Fresno State's all-time scoring list.
Shooting 56.6 percent from the field, Maddi Utti leads the Mountain West in field goal percentage. The do-it-all sophomore also ranks fourth in the league in steals (1.9 spg), seventh in rebounding (6.6 rbg) and 15th in scoring (11.3 ppg).
The 'Dogs rank 11th in the NCAA in free-throw percentage, knocking them down at a clip of 77 percent. Hitting 26-of-28 on the season, Utti's 92.9 percent leads the team.
With its up-tempo, pressing style, Fresno State has created havoc on opposing offenses to rank No. 13 in the NCAA and first in the conference in steals per game, averaging 11.9 per outing. The 'Dogs also sit at No. 56 in the country and second in the conference in turnovers forced with 19.31 per game.

Scouting San Diego State

San Diego State enters Wednesday's matchup with a 6-9 record and 1-3 in league play.
Despite a negative win/loss ratio, the Aztecs have stayed within reach of their best opponents, losing by three to conference leader Boise State and by nine to Arizona.
San Diego State fell 70-62 in its last competition against New Mexico, who currently sits in second in the Mountain West.
The lone conference win for the Aztecs came against Air Force, where they toppled the Falcons 70-61 at home.
The Aztecs are averaging more than three more free throws per game than opponents, leading to the second most free throws made on the season in the Mountan West.
San Diego State has a +2.6 rebound margin on the season, which is third in the conference.
The Aztecs also sit in third in the Mountain West and 57th in the NCAA in blocks per game with an average of 4.3 on the season.
Freshman guard Sophia Ramos leads the squad in scoring at 14.6 ppg, shooting 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep, also picking up 5.0 rpg.
Fellow freshman guard Mallory Adams leads the team on the glass, pulling down 8.3 rpg, which marks third in the Mountain West. Adams is scoring 10.5 ppg, also attempting the second most free throws on the season in the conference.
Redshirt junior center Zayn Dornstauder is ranked No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 84 in the NCAA in blocks per game, averaging 1.53 on the season.
Sophomore guard Najé Murray comes in at No. 2 in the conference and No. 82 in the nation in steals per game, averaging 2.3 on the season.

History with San Diego State

San Diego State leads the overall series 27-21.
Fresno State claimed the last meeting with a 66-60 win on Feb. 7, 2018, in San Diego, Calif.
The 'Dogs have won 14 of the last 18 contests, dating back to the 1997-98 season, including the previous four.
The last win for the Aztecs came in a double-overtime thriller on Feb. 10, 2016, where they defeated the Bulldogs 65-54 in San Diego, Calif.

Among the best in the league
Since Mountain West play began, Fresno State ranks in the top four in 14 of 21 statistical categories distributed by the league office. The Bulldogs lead the league in free throw percentage and scoring margin.

Built around offense
Unlike the first four seasons under head coach Jaime White in which defense was the key to success for the Bulldogs, Fresno State's offense has thrived in year five of her tenure. The 'Dogs are currently averaging 72.1 points per game, their highest scoring output since the 2011-12 season (74.9 ppg).

Fresno State has not averaged over 70 points per game in a season since the year prior to White's arrival when the team scored 70.1 points per game.
The Bulldogs have scored at least 70 points in two-thirds of its games this year.
The increase in scoring on offense has had its effect on the defense as the Bulldogs gave up the fifth-most points per game in program history last year (67.8 ppg). It was the most since 2001-02 season. That has since dropped to 61.4 points per game this year, closer the 59.8 they allowed on average during the previous three seasons.

Distributing the offense
Fresno State has seen three players score double figures in 12 of 16 games this season. The 'Dogs have seen four games with four players in double digits and five Bulldogs have scored in double figures twice.

The Bulldogs are 4-2 when at least four players reach double figures while posting a 2-1 record when only two players are in double digits. Both wins with only two players in double figures have come on the road during conference play.
Five Bulldogs are averaging more than eight points per game.
Fresno State won its only game this season with one player in doubles figures (White - 26) but four others scored eight or nine points.

Taking over
The Bulldogs' top scorer heading into conference play at 17.2 points per game, Candice White has taken her game picked up her scoring prowess even more in recent weeks. With four 20-point games in the first 11 games, the senior has already doubled that five games into league play. After scoring 15 in the MW opener versus San Jose State, White has gone for 28, 26, 24 and 22 points in the last four games.

Last year, she became the first Bulldog since Alex Sheedy in 2014 to post back-to-back games with at least 25 points. This season she did that again with 28 at Colorado State and 26 against Utah State.
From Jan. 5-12, White scored fifty-five of her 78 points in three halves, the first at Colorado State and Nevada and the second versus Utah State. Each outburst (16/22/17) resulted in a 20-minute stretch dominated by the Bulldogs. With White on the floor in those three halves, Fresno State outscored their opponents by a combined 121-63 in her 54 minutes.
White has scored at least 15 points in a half seven times this season, scoring at least 20 points twice. Last year, she posted at least 15 points in a half nine times, and 20 or more points in four games. She also scored 12 points in a five-minute overtime period at Colorado State.

Making her mark
One of the top shooting guards in the country, Candice White has scored 304 points through 16 games this season, averaging a team-high 19.0 points per game to lead the Mountain West.

She currently sits at No. 7 on the all-time scoring list, moving up 13 spots during the first half of the season. White has made her mark on the list in essentially two-plus seasons after playing only 69 minutes during her freshman year, scoring just 13 points.
The senior is fifteen points behind Rosie Moult.

"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.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.

'Dogs head down I-5 to face San Diego State on Wednesday night

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Players Mentioned

Aly Gamez

Maddi Utti

Candice White

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs head down I-5 to face San Diego State on Wednesday night

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Aly Gamez

Maddi Utti

Candice White

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