Fresno State Athletics
Wednesday, November 6
San Luis Obispo, CA
7:00 PM PT
Fresno State
at
Cal Poly
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
'Dogs open season at Cal Poly
11/5/2019 7:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game 1: Fresno State at Cal Poly
Nov. 6, 2019 • 7 p.m. PT • San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Mott Gym)
Stream: bigwest.org
Live Stats: gopoly.com
Series History:Â Fresno State leads 30-13
Last Meeting:Â Fresno State won 76-58 in Fresno, Calif. on Nov. 14, 2019
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Bulldog Bones                                                                                          Â
Scouting Cal Poly
'Dogs picked third in MWÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In the annual Mountain West preseason poll, Fresno State was picked to finish third, one spot higher than the Bulldogs finished a season ago. Voted on by a panel of the Conference's 11 head coaches and select women's basketball media from around the league, Fresno State placed third in the poll with 228 points behind 2019 regular-season and tournament champions Boise State (305) and New Mexico (280).
 - This is the second straight season that the Bulldogs were predicted to finish third.
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Utti tabbed among best in league                                                                                 Â
With an All-Freshman Team selection in 2018, and an All-Defensive Team and All-MW honorable mention accolades last year, Maddi Utti was named to the five-member 2019 preseason All-MW team. The junior became the Bulldogs' sixth preseason honoree in the program's seven seasons in the conference.
 - Utti's selection is the fourth straight and after Bego Faz Davlos earned the honor in 2016 and Candice White was named to the team the past two seasons.
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Haley Cavinder named preseason Co-Freshman of the Year                                Â
After a highly decorated career at Gilbert High School, Cavinder was named the conference's preseason Co-Freshman of the Year with New Mexico's Corina Carter. Cavinder ended her high school career with 2,282 career points and was tabbed as the Arizona 5A Player of the Year in 2019 after averaging 21.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists and helping lead her team to a state runner-up finish alongside her twin sister, Hanna. A two-time First-Team All-Arizona honoree, she has twice been selected to compete in the adidas Uprising All-American Camp, was the 2017 MVP of the Tournament of Champions and was rated as the No. 27 guard in the class of 2019 according to ESPNW.Â
 - Cavinder is the Bulldogs' first preseason Freshman of the Year honor in their seven seasons in the league.
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Juniors producing                                                                                                              Â
Throughout the past two seasons, Fresno State has gotten a big chunk of its production from its now junior class. The group of Bree Delaney, Aly Gamez, Genna Ogier and Maddi Utti have combined to play in 250 games, start 193, total 6,315 minutes on the court and score 1,994 points.
 - Gamez and Utti alone have made 120 out of possible 128 starts. The two have ranked in the top three in most statistical categories for the Bulldogs during the previous two seasons.
Getting offensive                                                                                                                Â
Fresno State enters the season with the potential of the 2019-20 team being one of its highest scoring in program history due to an up-tempo style and an influx of scoring options despite losing its top threat from the past two seasons in Candice White. Last year, the Bulldogs averaged 69.7 points per game, its highest under Jaime White in her five seasons. It was an uptick of 3.3 points compared from the previous season.
 - Fresno State has only averaged more than 70 points per game for a season 10 times. Three of those seasons saw an average over 75 points which included the program record of 78.4 points per game during the 1986-87 season.
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A jack of all traits                                                                                                                Â
Through two seasons, Maddi Utti has proved to be the glue that holds the Bulldogs together with her ability to do just about anything that is asked. From scoring in the paint as an undersized post, to dishing off to teammates or kicking out to open shooters. Her offensive game is complemented by her defense as she goes above opponents for rebounds or blocking shots with a 29-inch vertical or her ability to play at the top of the press, or even going one-on-one with a team's best offensive threat.
 - Last season, Utti was the only player in the conference to rank in the top 10 in the league in rebounds (7.3 rpg), steals (1.9 spg) and blocks (1.1 bpg).
 - A highly efficient player with the ball in her hands, Utti finished second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game, shooting 56.5 percent from the field which ranked 22nd in the NCAA. She enters this season ranked fifth in league history in career field-goal percentage (.555) while ranking first in conference games only (.563). Utti's 11 career double-doubles is the highest among active players in the league.
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New faces                                                                                                                               Â
Fresno State added six newcomers to its roster this year which means 42.9 percent of its roster has never played a minute at the Division I level. The group includes five freshmen (Haley Cavinder, Hanna Cavinder, Aunjona James, Kendyll Kinzer, Brooke Walling) and one junior college transfer (Wytalla Motta). The group has two 5-foot-6 guards (Cavinders), a 5-foot-10 forward (James), a 6-foot forward (Motta), a 6-foot-1Â forward (Kinzer) and a 6-foot-3 center (Walling).
 - The Bulldogs' five freshman combined to average just over 84 points per game during their senior seasons. This group will be look at to help make up for the loss of former Bulldog and current professional in Germany, Candice White, who averaged more than 18 points per game of the last two years and sits third on the program's all-time scoring list.
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Seeing double                                                                                                                       Â
Part of this year's coveted 2019 recruiting class were identical twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder. Leading Gilbert High School. to a 5A state runner-up finish in Arizona, the two split two of the state's top postseason honors with Haley being named 5A Player of the Year and Hanna being named 5A Offensive Player of the Year. Like their look, the two the two averaged similar numbers as seniors with Haley posting 21.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game while Hanna was at 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
- Fresno State's twins are one of 26 sets of twins on Division I women's basketball rosters for the 2019-20 season and are one of nine sets that are true freshmen.
- The Cavinders are one of two sets who hail from Arizona along with Gonzaga's Jenn and Leanne Wirth who are from Mesa. The Cavinders are tied for the shortest set of twins with Austin Peay's Brandi and Brianah Ferby who are also 5-foot-6.
- Only three of the 26 sets of twins are with Power Five programs.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â Â @FresnoStateWBBÂ
Instagram:Â Â fresnostwbbÂ
Facebook:Â Â FresnoStateAthletics
Nov. 6, 2019 • 7 p.m. PT • San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Mott Gym)
Stream: bigwest.org
Live Stats: gopoly.com
Series History:Â Fresno State leads 30-13
Last Meeting:Â Fresno State won 76-58 in Fresno, Calif. on Nov. 14, 2019
 Â
Bulldog Bones                                                                                          Â
- Fresno State enters the 2019-20 season welcoming back four of its top five scorers from last year's Mountain West campaign. The Bulldogs will be without the services though of two-time conference leading scorer Candice White who graduated last spring and is currently playing professionally in Germany.
- Despite the loss of White, the Bulldogs were picked to finish third in MW's annual preseason poll for the second-straight year.
- After a strong sophomore season, Maddi Utti was tabbed as one of five players selected to the preseason All-Mountain West team. She became Fresno State's sixth selection in seven seasons.
- Freshman Haley Cavinder was tabbed as preseason Co-Freshman of the Year, the program's first player to earn that distinction.
- Fresno State averaged 69.7 points per game last season, the most during Jaime White's tenure.
- With six newcomers, 42.9 percent of Fresno State's roster has never played a Division IÂ minute.
- For the first time since joining the Mountain West, the Bulldogs had two players earn preseason accolades.
- Jaime White is one win away from her 100th at Fresno State.
Scouting Cal Poly
- Cal Poly is coming off a season in which it went 6-21 overall and 3-8 against nonconference opponents.Â
- The Mustangs return their leading scorer from a season ago in 6-foot-4 senior Hana Vesela 11.2 points per game. Alicia Roufosse is the is the team's leading rebounder as the 6-foot-3 inch forward average 5.5 rebounds per game last season.Â
- Fresno State is 30-13 all-time against the Mustangs. Despite the lopsided record the series is tied dating back to 2000 in which each team has three wins apiece.
- The Bulldogs are 13-10 all-time at Cal Poly with its last win in San Luis Obispo coming on Nov. 20, 2011 (79-76).
- On Nov. 16, 2014, Jaime White earned her first win at Fresno State with a 67-56 win over Cal Poly at the Save Mart Center. On Wednesday, she will be going for 100th win with the Bulldogs, another milestone mark that could come against the Mustangs.
'Dogs picked third in MWÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In the annual Mountain West preseason poll, Fresno State was picked to finish third, one spot higher than the Bulldogs finished a season ago. Voted on by a panel of the Conference's 11 head coaches and select women's basketball media from around the league, Fresno State placed third in the poll with 228 points behind 2019 regular-season and tournament champions Boise State (305) and New Mexico (280).
 - This is the second straight season that the Bulldogs were predicted to finish third.
Â
Utti tabbed among best in league                                                                                 Â
With an All-Freshman Team selection in 2018, and an All-Defensive Team and All-MW honorable mention accolades last year, Maddi Utti was named to the five-member 2019 preseason All-MW team. The junior became the Bulldogs' sixth preseason honoree in the program's seven seasons in the conference.
 - Utti's selection is the fourth straight and after Bego Faz Davlos earned the honor in 2016 and Candice White was named to the team the past two seasons.
Â
Haley Cavinder named preseason Co-Freshman of the Year                                Â
After a highly decorated career at Gilbert High School, Cavinder was named the conference's preseason Co-Freshman of the Year with New Mexico's Corina Carter. Cavinder ended her high school career with 2,282 career points and was tabbed as the Arizona 5A Player of the Year in 2019 after averaging 21.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists and helping lead her team to a state runner-up finish alongside her twin sister, Hanna. A two-time First-Team All-Arizona honoree, she has twice been selected to compete in the adidas Uprising All-American Camp, was the 2017 MVP of the Tournament of Champions and was rated as the No. 27 guard in the class of 2019 according to ESPNW.Â
 - Cavinder is the Bulldogs' first preseason Freshman of the Year honor in their seven seasons in the league.
Â
Juniors producing                                                                                                              Â
Throughout the past two seasons, Fresno State has gotten a big chunk of its production from its now junior class. The group of Bree Delaney, Aly Gamez, Genna Ogier and Maddi Utti have combined to play in 250 games, start 193, total 6,315 minutes on the court and score 1,994 points.
 - Gamez and Utti alone have made 120 out of possible 128 starts. The two have ranked in the top three in most statistical categories for the Bulldogs during the previous two seasons.
Getting offensive                                                                                                                Â
Fresno State enters the season with the potential of the 2019-20 team being one of its highest scoring in program history due to an up-tempo style and an influx of scoring options despite losing its top threat from the past two seasons in Candice White. Last year, the Bulldogs averaged 69.7 points per game, its highest under Jaime White in her five seasons. It was an uptick of 3.3 points compared from the previous season.
 - Fresno State has only averaged more than 70 points per game for a season 10 times. Three of those seasons saw an average over 75 points which included the program record of 78.4 points per game during the 1986-87 season.
Â
A jack of all traits                                                                                                                Â
Through two seasons, Maddi Utti has proved to be the glue that holds the Bulldogs together with her ability to do just about anything that is asked. From scoring in the paint as an undersized post, to dishing off to teammates or kicking out to open shooters. Her offensive game is complemented by her defense as she goes above opponents for rebounds or blocking shots with a 29-inch vertical or her ability to play at the top of the press, or even going one-on-one with a team's best offensive threat.
 - Last season, Utti was the only player in the conference to rank in the top 10 in the league in rebounds (7.3 rpg), steals (1.9 spg) and blocks (1.1 bpg).
 - A highly efficient player with the ball in her hands, Utti finished second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game, shooting 56.5 percent from the field which ranked 22nd in the NCAA. She enters this season ranked fifth in league history in career field-goal percentage (.555) while ranking first in conference games only (.563). Utti's 11 career double-doubles is the highest among active players in the league.
Â
New faces                                                                                                                               Â
Fresno State added six newcomers to its roster this year which means 42.9 percent of its roster has never played a minute at the Division I level. The group includes five freshmen (Haley Cavinder, Hanna Cavinder, Aunjona James, Kendyll Kinzer, Brooke Walling) and one junior college transfer (Wytalla Motta). The group has two 5-foot-6 guards (Cavinders), a 5-foot-10 forward (James), a 6-foot forward (Motta), a 6-foot-1Â forward (Kinzer) and a 6-foot-3 center (Walling).
 - The Bulldogs' five freshman combined to average just over 84 points per game during their senior seasons. This group will be look at to help make up for the loss of former Bulldog and current professional in Germany, Candice White, who averaged more than 18 points per game of the last two years and sits third on the program's all-time scoring list.
Â
Seeing double                                                                                                                       Â
Part of this year's coveted 2019 recruiting class were identical twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder. Leading Gilbert High School. to a 5A state runner-up finish in Arizona, the two split two of the state's top postseason honors with Haley being named 5A Player of the Year and Hanna being named 5A Offensive Player of the Year. Like their look, the two the two averaged similar numbers as seniors with Haley posting 21.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game while Hanna was at 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
- Fresno State's twins are one of 26 sets of twins on Division I women's basketball rosters for the 2019-20 season and are one of nine sets that are true freshmen.
- The Cavinders are one of two sets who hail from Arizona along with Gonzaga's Jenn and Leanne Wirth who are from Mesa. The Cavinders are tied for the shortest set of twins with Austin Peay's Brandi and Brianah Ferby who are also 5-foot-6.
- Only three of the 26 sets of twins are with Power Five programs.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â Â @FresnoStateWBBÂ
Instagram:Â Â fresnostwbbÂ
Facebook:Â Â FresnoStateAthletics
Players Mentioned
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