Bulldogs outlast Aztecs in high-scoring affair

Wednesday, January 23

San Diego, Calif.

6:30 p.m. PT

Fresno State

12-5, 5-1

San Diego State

6-10 1-4

Fresno State

San Diego State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs outlast Aztecs in high-scoring affair

1/23/2019 10:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

SAN DIEGO – In a game that saw back-and-forth play, Fresno State led for over 33 minutes on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena, defeating San Diego State, 87-81. The Bulldogs' trio of Candice White, Aly Gamez and Maddi Utti combined for 67 points.

White finished with her fifth straight 20-point outing, tying her season high with 28 points. Gamez added 20 points, tying a program-best 12-of-12 at the free throw line, while also dishing a career-high nine assists to go with five steals. Utti recorded her second double-double of the season with 19 points and a career-best 13 rebounds. Led by 22 points from Naje Murray, each of the Aztecs' starters finished in double figures.

How It Happened
Fresno State came out with pressure from the start, forcing the Aztecs into miscues and fouls. The Bulldogs built an early 8-2 advantage after a 3-pointer from Genna Ogier but the Aztecs would answer with a 7-1 spurt with a 3 of their own from Murray. Fresno State got into the bonus less than five minutes into the quarter and forced the ball inside and got to the line but after leading 19-13 with 2:39 left in the quarter, SDSU would string together seven unanswered in a minute to grab its first lead, an advantage the Aztecs would take into the second quarter.

Trailing by one, White came to life for the Bulldogs, and in turn flipped the first half. Shooting 0-of-2 the opening period, the senior caught fire from deep, going 4-of-4 in the quarter. Three of those came during a 13-4 run through the first five-plus minutes after the 'Dogs trailed by three. Fresno State would build to its largest lead of the game at 11 with 10 seconds remaining in the half, but Tea Adams would hit a 30-footer to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 47-39 at the half.

With Fresno State holding a 10-point lead two minutes into the third, SDSU hit a quick 7-0 run to pull within three with 6:42 on the clock. That forced a timeout from Fresno State which White came out of and scored the next four points. The two sides traded points the reminder of the quarter with Fresno State holding 66-59.

White knocked down her sixth straight 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter but the 10-point lead was short lived as Murray answered at the other end for the Aztecs. The Bulldogs saw their lead disappear with 4:25 remaining in the game as SDSU went on a 7-0 run by hurting the 'Dogs with drives from the perimeter. White again had an answer though with a layup but the Aztecs responded to knot the game up at 75-75 with 3:01 to play. With a layup at the other end, Raven Johnson kick-started a 6-0 run to give the Bulldogs breathing room. San Diego State would twice pull within four but the Bulldogs finished 6-of-6 from the line in the final minute (Gamez: 4-of-4; White: 2-of-2) to close the game.

Team Notes

The Bulldogs have now won nine of its last 10 games against San Diego State.
Fresno State earned its first win of the season when allowing at least 80 points.
The Bulldogs shot over 90 percent from the free throw line for the fifth time this season (91.7 percent; 22-of-24).
The 'Dogs were +17 in points off turnovers, one point more than SDSU scored (33-16).
Fresno State won its first game of the season when allowing an opponent to shoot over 50 percent (51.7 percent) after losing the previous two.

Players Notes
Candice White – 28 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Shot a career-best 6-of-9 from 3.
Made six consecutive 3-pointers.
Scored 14 points in the second quarter after not scoring in the first.
Moved into sixth on Fresno State's scoring list with 1,439 points, passing Rosie Moult.

Maddi Utti – 19 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals

Grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds.

Aly Gamez – 20 points, 9 assists, 5 steals, 4 rebounds

Joined Tamika Louis (11/22/97) and Bree Farley (3/7/14) for the program's best single-game free-throw percentage in a game (12-of-12).
Dished a career-best nine assists.

Next Up
Fresno State will return home to the Save Mart Center to host Colorado State on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff against the Rams is slated for 2 p.m. PT.

"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.