Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, December 21
Santa Clara, CA
1:00 PM PT
Fresno State
at
Santa Clara
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
Fresno State heads to Bay Area to face Santa Clara
12/20/2019 11:40:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game 12: Fresno State (8-3) at Santa Clara (5-5)
Dec. 21, 2019 • 1 p.m. PT • Santa Clara, Calif. (Leavey Center)
Live Stream: WCCsports.com
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Series History:Â Fresno State leads 25-15
Last Meeting:Â Fresno State won 80-53 on Dec. 12, 2018 in Fresno, Calif.
Bulldog Bones  Â
Making the extra pass
Dec. 21, 2019 • 1 p.m. PT • Santa Clara, Calif. (Leavey Center)
Live Stream: WCCsports.com
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Series History:Â Fresno State leads 25-15
Last Meeting:Â Fresno State won 80-53 on Dec. 12, 2018 in Fresno, Calif.
Bulldog Bones  Â
- Fresno State will face its final Division I non-conference opponent of the regular season on Saturday afternoon in Santa Clara.
- The Bulldogs are riding a four-game winning streak, the second-longest active streak in the Mountain West.
- With 111 points scored in their latest outing, it was the first time since 2014 that the 'Dogs hit triple digits, and was the most points since 2011.
- After playing eight games during the month of November, the Bulldogs will play just five in December, with only three in the final three weeks of the month.Â
- Fresno State is 8-0 this season when scoring more than 70 points.
- With three players in its starting lineup who can play the point, Fresno State has been protective of the ball this year, ranking No. 8 in the NCAA with only 12.2 turnovers per game.
- Fresno State's interchangeable offensive leaders are freshmen Hanna Cavinder (17.5) Haley Cavinder (16.3) and junior Maddi Utti (16.6). The trio ranks second, third and fourth in the conference in scoring, and is the only trio to rank in the top four of any league in scoring.
- Utti is one of three players in the country to rank in the top 20 in both made field goals (5th) and steals (17th).
- Santa Clara enters Saturday's game with a 5-5 record but four of its five losses have come by single digits.
- The Broncos average 71.1 points per game, holding opponents to 64.6.
- Tia Hay leads the team in scoring at 11.7 points per outing but Ashlyn Herlihy and Merle Wiehl are right behind her at 11.5 points per game.
- Hay ranks fourth nationally in free-throw percentage, shooting 93.3 percent from the line.
- While the Broncos have three players averaging double figures in the scoring column, Lauren Yearwood isn't too far off at 9.6. The 6-foot-4 senior also ranks second in the West Coast Conference in blocks with 1.7 per game.
- Yearwood and Herlihy average a team-leading 6.9 rebounds per game.
- Fresno State holds a 10-game lead in the all-time series with Santa Clara (25-15).
- The Bulldogs have claimed each of the last three games in the series with all three having been contested at the Save Mart Center.
- Fresno State's last defeat came on Dec. 19, 2012, the last time the 'Dogs made the trip up to Santa Clara (58-53).
- The Bulldogs are 8-12 all-time on the road against the Broncos but hold a winning record in meetings since 2000 (3-2).
Cashing in turnovers
During its last six games, Fresno State has made a habit of making opponents pay for turning the ball over. That culminated in 79 points off turnovers in the last two outings.
- Following 34 points off turnovers in the season opener at Cal Poly, the Bulldogs averaged just seven per game during its next four games. The 'Dogs averaged 25 per game during next six games.
- Fresno State has seen an increase of 12.6 points per game between its first five games to its last six games. (25-12.4).
- The Bulldogs have recorded five of their highest points off turnover totals in the last six games.
Making the extra pass
With its three highest assist totals of the season coming in the last four games (18-21-17-29), including a season-high 29, three assists shy of a school record, Fresno State is ranks No. 27 in the NCAA with 175. The Bulldogs have averaged 21.3 assists per game the last four games, more than five assists higher than their season average which ranks third in the MW and 58th in the nation (15.9 apg).
- Through the Bulldogs' current four-game winning streak, freshman guards Hanna Cavinder (7.0 apg) and Haley Cavinder (6.0 apg) have averaged a combined 13 assists per game.
- Ranking fourth in the league in assists, the Bulldogs' low turnover frequency has them leading the MW and ranking No. 16 in the NCAA with a 1.31 assist-to-turnover ratio. The rate is significantly higher the program record of 1.11.
All-around game  Â
Having been one of Bulldogs' top performers in nearly all areas, the preseason all-conference junior has picked up right where she left off. Through 11 games, Utti ranks in the top eight in the MW in scoring (3rd), rebounding (5th), field-goal percentage (1st), steals (1st), offensive rebounds (5th) and defensive rebounds (7th).
- Utti leads the league and ranks fifth in the NCAA in field goals made (83) and is 17th in steals (34).
- Utti posted her fourth 20-point performance of the season on Saturday night with a team-high 20 points against Utah State.
The sixth  Â
Through the Bulldogs' four-game winning streak, one constant has been the play of senior Jordanna Porter. First off the bench through the start of the season, the guard has started two of the last three games with Aly Gamez out of the lineup. The senior has stepped up in a big way averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds since Nov. 30.
- Porter has shot 62.5 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3 during the last four games.
- Last time out, she recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds against La Verne.
Two of the nation's most impactful freshmen
"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
All-around game  Â
Having been one of Bulldogs' top performers in nearly all areas, the preseason all-conference junior has picked up right where she left off. Through 11 games, Utti ranks in the top eight in the MW in scoring (3rd), rebounding (5th), field-goal percentage (1st), steals (1st), offensive rebounds (5th) and defensive rebounds (7th).
- Utti leads the league and ranks fifth in the NCAA in field goals made (83) and is 17th in steals (34).
- Utti posted her fourth 20-point performance of the season on Saturday night with a team-high 20 points against Utah State.
The sixth  Â
Through the Bulldogs' four-game winning streak, one constant has been the play of senior Jordanna Porter. First off the bench through the start of the season, the guard has started two of the last three games with Aly Gamez out of the lineup. The senior has stepped up in a big way averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds since Nov. 30.
- Porter has shot 62.5 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3 during the last four games.
- Last time out, she recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds against La Verne.
Two of the nation's most impactful freshmen
On Thursday, EPSNW contributor Dan Olson released his Top 10 most impactful freshmen through the first month-and-a-half of the season. Though the Cavinders where not in his 10, a group that included nine players from Power 5 conferences and all of which were rated as top 100 prospects in the class of 2019, the two were named among six other freshmen of note.Â
Two of the nation's most impactful freshmen
On Thursday, EPSNW contributor Dan Olson released his Top 10 most impactful freshmen through the first month-and-a-half of the season. Though the Cavinders where not in his 10, a group that included nine players from Power 5 conferences and all of which were rated as top 100 prospects in the class of 2019, the two were named among six other freshmen of note.Â
- Among the 16 players listed, eight were top 10 recruits.
- Among the 16 players listed, eight were top 10 recruits.
- 12 players were rated in the top 50 and 13 were rated in the top 100.
- The Cavinders were two of three players who were unranked along with Harvard's Lola Mullaney.
- Haley and Hanna were two of four players at a non-Power 5 programs along with Mullaney and Leilani Correa of St. John's.
"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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/ Women's Basketball
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