Backcourt duo leads ‘Dogs past Rams, 66-55

Saturday, January 5

Fort Collins, Colo.

1 p.m. PT

Fresno State

9-4, 2-0MW

Colorado State

7-6, 1-1MW

Fresno State

Colorado State

Photo by: Keith Kountz/Fresno State

Backcourt duo leads ‘Dogs past Rams, 66-55

1/5/2019 4:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

White (28) and Gamez (17) notch season-high games with a combined 45 points.

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Holding Colorado State to 13 points in the opening 20 minutes, Fresno State raced out to 23-point lead and cruised to 66-55 on Saturday afternoon at Moby Arena.

The Bulldogs' offense was bolstered by season highs from Candice White (28) and Aly Gamez (17). The 'Dogs carried the edge on the glass, 37-30, as Maddi Utti tied a career-best with 12, tying her mark set last year at CSU. The Bulldogs' defense also produced 13 steals as they turned up the pressure throughout the game on the Rams.

How It Happened
After a turnover on its opening possession, Fresno State began firing from 3 early and often, draining four of their first five to bolt out to a 12-4 lead less than four minutes into the game. Three of those were part of a 14-2 run that ended with a steal and-one layup from White to give the 'Dogs a 17-6 advantage with four minutes to play in the quarter. Fresno State took a nine-point lead into the second after doubling CSU's turnovers to made shots (6-3).

The second quarter started with the 'Dogs getting into the lane with a trio of layups, the third with White converting her second and-one of the afternoon. The 7-0 run pushed the Bulldogs' lead to 24 12 minutes into the game. Fresno State's defense remained strong, allowing just five points in the quarter. The Bulldogs ended the half with a bang as Breanne Knishka splashed in a corner 3 to give the visitors a 36-13 lead at the break.

The third started with the Bulldogs taking their largest lead of the game at 26 as Gamez got into the lane on the break and dropped in a floater with the foul. Colorado State's offense would come to life in the quarter though as they would shoot 57.1 percent and 4-of-8 from 3 as the Rams cut the Bulldogs' lead to 18 with 10 minutes remaining.

With Fresno State's opening six points of the fourth quarter going to White, the lead remained 18, and a 3-pointer from Bree Delaney with 6:39 on the clock put the Bulldogs ahead 60-41. With the Rams quickly cutting the deficit back to 15, the 'Dogs called a timeout. White answered with a deep 3 at the top of the key to push the advantage back to. Lena Svanholm responded with six unanswered for CSU and Taylor Mole added a jumper as the Bulldogs' lead dwindled to 10. White again answered through an and-one after Utti came up with a pair of offensive rebounds in quick succession and found her teammate open under the basket to put the game on ice, 66-53, with just over a minute to play.

Team Notes

Sixth game this season with at least nine made 3-pointers.
Fresno State was perfect from the free throw line (7-of-7) for the fourth time this year.
The win gave the Bulldogs back-to-back wins in Fort Collins for the first time since 1994-95.
Fresno State has won three of the last four games against the Rams, their best stretch since winning five of six from 2013-15.
Saturday marked the Bulldogs' first win this season when only two players scored in double figures.

Player Notes
Candice White – 28 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals

Scored a season-high 28 points.
Shot 9-of-15 from the field, 4-of-7 from 3.
Outscored CSU in the first half with 16 points to the Rams' 13.

Aly Gamez – 17 points, 4 rebounds

Scored a season-high 17 points.
Shot an efficient 7-of-12 from floor.
Scored nine of the Bulldogs' 15 third-quarter points.

Up Next
Fresno State returns home to host Utah State on Wednesday. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. PT.

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