Bulldogs and Cowgirls square-off Wednesday night in Fresno

Game 19: Fresno State (13-5, 6-1 MW) vs. Wyoming (11-5, 4-3 MW)
Jan. 30, 2019 – 7 p.m. PT – Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Sidearmstats
Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
Series History: FS leads 19-12
Last Meeting: WYO won 74-57 on Feb. 24, 2018 in Laramie, Wyo.
Up Next: at New Mexico (Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. PT)

Promotions

Greek Night
Greek Tank Top Giveaway throughout the game
In-game Greek pizza eating contest
Chance to win a free entrée courtesy of The Old Spaghetti Factory for being in the Lucky Row of the Game
Watch the Cheer Team perform at halftime

Bulldog Bones

Fresno State stands at 6-1 in Mountain West play, a game behind its best seven game start since joining the league (7-0: 2015, 2016). The Bulldogs are tied for second place with Boise State and a half-game behind New Mexico in the league standings.
Beginning with Wyoming, Fresno State's next six opponents rank in the top six of the conference. The stretch includes two games against New Mexico.
Fresno State's double-digit scoring trio has remained the same from a year ago: Aly Gamez (11.0 ppg), Maddi Utti (11.4 ppg) and Candice White (19.1 ppg).
Reaching double figures in scoring in all but one game this season, Candice White leads the MW in scoring by 2.3 points per game. With five 20-point outings in seven conference games, the senior is averaging 22.0 points in MW games.
Shooting 56.2 percent from the field, Maddi Utti leads the Mountain West in field goal percentage. The do-it-all sophomore also ranks fifth in the league in steals (1.9 spg), seventh in rebounding (6.8 rbg) and 14th in scoring (11.4 ppg).
The 'Dogs rank sixth in the NCAA in free-throw percentage, knocking them down at a clip of 77.9 percent. Hitting 32-of-36 on the season, Utti's 88.9 percent leads the team. Fresno State's top five scorers are each shooting over 75 percent from the line on the year.
With its up-tempo, pressing style, Fresno State has created havoc on opposing offenses to rank No. 16 in the NCAA and first in the conference in steals per game, averaging 11.5 per outing. The 'Dogs also sit at No. 62 in the country in turnovers forced with 18.89 per game.
The 'Dogs also sit at No. 56 in the country and second in the conference in turnovers forced with 19.29 per game.

Scouting Wyoming

Wyoming enters Wednesday's matchup with an 11-5 record, going 4-3 in conference play.
The Cowgirls have won their last two games, including knocking Boise State out of the conference lead with a 64-52 win in Laramie, Wyo.
Wyoming is 1-4 on the road this year, with its lone win coming over San Jose State (1-17) a week ago.
The Cowgirls are ranked third in the conference in scoring margin, scoring offense and scoring defense, averaging 72.3 ppg and giving up 59.8 ppg for a margin of +12.4 that ranks 41st in the nation.
Wyoming excels in taking care of the ball, having the fewest turnovers in the country this season along with the best assist to turnover ratio in the conference and eighth highest in the NCAA at 1.41. Wyoming's turnover margin also leads the Mountain West and comes in at No. 27 in the nation, while also having the second lowest turnovers per game in the country at 11.1 per game.
Wyoming is second in the Mountain West and 35th in the NCAA in free throw percentage at 74.6 percent.
The Cowgirls have the highest field goal percentage in the conference and 18th highest in the country, shooting 46.2 percent from the field.
Wyoming's bread and butter is the 3-ball, evidenced by the team leading the conference in 3's per game and 3-point field goal percentage. Wyoming is ranked as high as No.4 in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage.
Senior forward Marta Gomez spearheads the Cowgirl offensive attack, averaging 15.3 ppg and shooting 45.9 percent from beyond the arc, which ranks 10th in the NCAA and best in conference.
Senior forward Bailee Cotton leads Wyoming on the boards, averaging 8.8 rpg, which marks second in the Mountain West.

Junior forward Taylor Rusk is a major factor in the Cowgirls care of the ball with a 3.44 assist to turnover ratio, which ranks fifth in the nation and leads the conference. Senior guard Clara Tapia is also a main contributor with a 2.67 ratio that ranks 20th in the country and second in the conference. The two have been keys in Wyoming's lack of turnovers this year as they rank No. 2 in the NCAA with only 11.1 per game.

History with Wyoming

Fresno State holds the all-time series lead, 19-12.
The 'Dogs series-best six straight games from the 2013-14 season to the 2015-16 season.
The Bulldogs have also won 11 of the last 14 matchups.
Wyoming's last victory in Fresno was a 58-52 win on Feb. 8, 1996.
Jaime White is 8-2 against the Cowgirls since taking over at Fresno State. She previously worked with Wyoming head coach Joe Legerski at Utah and Wyoming from 2001-06.

The Gauntlet

To be the best, you must beat the best. Opening conference play 6-1 record, with a 1-1 record against the top half of the league, Fresno State's conference season will likely be defined during the next three weeks which begins with Wyoming on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs' next six opponents all sit in the league's top six (3 home, 3 away) and are within 2.5 games of first place.
Fresno State will host Wyoming and UNLV which sit in a tie for fifth while playing road games at Boise State (second) and Utah State (fourth). The 'Dogs will face New Mexico twice during the stretch. The Lobos will be off on Wednesday as they hold a half-game lead in the standings over Fresno State and Boise State.

Learning to win close

With 13 of their first 16 games being decided by double digits, the Bulldogs haven't had the opportunity to to learn how to win the close ones.That changed last week, though, Fresno State didn't flinch late in tight games, defeating San Diego State 87-81 on the road and Colorado State 57-54 at home.

During the final three minutes when both games were tied, Fresno State outscored SDSU 12-6, going 2-of-2 from the field and 8-of-8 from the line, while outscoring CSU 7-4, shooting 4-of-6 from the field with one of those makes coming after an offensive rebound.
Through the first 16 games of the season, Fresno State played just one game decided by six points or less, a 62-61 defeat at USC on Nov. 28.

Defending Fresno

Since joining the 2012-13 season, Fresno State has dropped four or less games at home in single season twice. This season, the Bulldogs have lived up to defending their home court going 9-1 at the Save Mart Center.

In Jaime White's first year, the Bulldogs finished 15-1, the program's best record in a season at the Save Mart Center.
Since moving into their on-campus home, the 'Dogs have finished a season with one home loss four times.

3 for the win

With a wide-open offense, Fresno State has deployed an array of 3-point shooters this shooters. The 3-ball has been a key in determining wins and losses for the 'Dogs as they are 12-1 when making more 3's than their opponents while going 0-4 when allowing more.

Fresno State has connected from 3 10 or more times in a game on five occasions.
On Jan. 26 versus Colorado State, knocked down 12 3's in which nine of the team's first 10 made field goals of the game came from beyond the arc. It was the first time this season in which the Bulldogs made more 3's (12) in a game than 2's (9).

Answering when called upon

Fresno State's bench production has proved to play a critical role this season. With four players earning 9-22 minutes off the bench, their minutes have been a difference. When they outscore an opponents bench, Fresno State is 7-1 compared to a 6-4 record when they don't

Against Colorado State on Jan. 26, the Bulldogs used a 18-2 difference, their second-largest disparity of the season, to defeat the Rams 57-54.

"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.

Bulldogs and Cowgirls square-off Wednesday night in Fresno

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Aly Gamez

Maddi Utti

Candice White

Fresno State Athletics

Bulldogs and Cowgirls square-off Wednesday night in Fresno

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Aly Gamez

Maddi Utti

Candice White

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