Bulldogs take on Air Force in Colorado on Wednesday

Game 25: Fresno State (16-8, 9-4 MW) at Air Force (8-16, 4-9 MW)
Feb. 20, 2019 – 6 p.m. PT – USAF Academy, Colo. (Clune Arena)
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series History: Fresno State leads 13-10
Last Meeting: FS won 64-48 on Jan. 29, 2019 in Fresno, Calif.
Up Next: vs. Nevada (Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. PT)

Bulldog Bones

Fresno State sits in fourth in the Mountain West standings at 9-4, with all four losses coming to the top three teams, three of those coming during the previous three weeks.
The 'Dogs rank No. 4 in the NCAA in free-throw percentage, knocking them down at a clip of 78.1 percent, slipping three spots after shooting just 61.1 percent (11-of-18) at Boise State last Wednesday. Fresno State's top five scorers are each shooting over 80 percent from the line on the year.
Averaging 72.8 points per game during the nonconference season, the Bulldogs are posting 70.4 per contest in league games after scoring north of 70 points in their last three games after just one in the previous four games.
Fresno State's double-digit scoring trio has remained the same from a year ago: Aly Gamez (11.4 ppg), Maddi Utti (11.7 ppg) and Candice White (19.0 ppg).
Reaching double figures in scoring in all but one game this season, Candice White leads the MW in scoring by 2.1 points per game. The senior has 12 20-point performances in 24 games, including eight in 13 conference games where she is averaging 20.5 points per game.
Do-it-all sophomore Maddi Utti also ranks second in the league in field-goal percentage (.545), fourth in the league in steals (1.8 spg), sixth in rebounding (7.2 rpg) ninth in blocks (1.0 bpg) and 18th in scoring (11.7 ppg).

By the Numbers
7 - Fresno State has made double-digit 3-pointers in seven games this season after knocking down 11 versus New Mexico.
10 - The Bulldogs overcame their first double-digit deficit of the season after trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter against New Mexico.
20 & 10 - Candice White ranks No. 20 on the MW all-time scoring list and No. 10 on the list for scoring in MW games.

Scouting Air Force

Air Force enters Wednesday's matchup with an 8-16 record, and sit ninth in the Mountain West at 4-9.
Seven of the Falcons eight wins have come at Clune Arena which includes all four of their conference wins (Colorado State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose).
Against the league's top three teams, Air Force has lost by an average of 24 points, with all three games coming away from the Academy.
AFA leads the Mountain West on the offensive glass, grabbing 15.0 O-boards per game. The Falcons also sit second in the conference in 3-point percentage defense (.291), rebounding offense (38.2 rpg), offensive rebounding percentage (.382), and third in steals (10.1 spg)
2018 Mountain West Freshman of the Year Kaelin Immel leads the Falcon offense for the second straight season, leading the team in scoring with 12.7 points per game which ranks 12th in the conference.
Fellow sophomore Emily Conroe ranks second on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg) and is the team's current leading rebounder (6.0 rpg) after an injury sideline junior Kassady Huffman who was averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. Conroe also leads the team and ranks fourth in the MW in steals with 1.8 per game.
Last year, Air Force had two freshman rank in the top 30 in the league in scoring and that is the case this season as Riley Snyder (9.9 ppg) and Brianna Autrey (9.6 ppg) rank 25th and 26th.

Series History with Air Force

Fresno State holds the all-time series against Air Force, 13-0.
The Bulldogs are 7-0 at the Academy, winning games by an average of 17.9 points per game,
Last season's matchup in Colorado was the closest in the series as Fresno State won 64-58 on Dec. 30, 2017. The only other games in which the 'Dogs won by single digits was during the first two contests of the series in 1996.

Candice & the S'mores

During the last two games, Fresno State has deployed Candice White and its sophomore quartet in the starting five. Last year, White was joined by Breanne Knishka in the starting lineup for the majority of the season alongside then-freshmen Aly Gamez, Genna Ogier and Maddi Utti.

During the last two games, the sophomores have combined to average 34.0 points, 13.5 rebounds 10.0 assists per game.

3 for the win

With a wide-open offense, Fresno State has deployed an array of 3-point shooters this season. The 3-ball has been a key in determining wins and losses for the 'Dogs as they are 14-2 when making more 3's than their opponents while going 0-5 when allowing more.

In Fresno State's two losses when making more 3's, the 'Dogs gave up 80-plus points in each contest (at UCLA, at New Mexico).
The Bulldogs are 1-5 when being held to six or less 3-pointers.
Fresno State has connected from the 3-point line 10 or more times in a game on six occasions (5-1).
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).

Turning the corner

After its three close calls against the league's best, Fresno State turned the tide on Feb. 16 against New Mexico. Down 10 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, Bulldogs outscored the Lobos 28-11 through the final nine-plus minutes to win their first game against a top-three team, 77-70

One of the best two guards around

On Feb. 12, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced that Candice White was one of 10 candidates for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as one of the nation's Top 10 shooting guards.

Coming off of leading the Mountain West in scoring at 18.9 points per game, White was tabbed to the award watch list entering the season.

"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.

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Fresno State Athletics

Bulldogs take on Air Force in Colorado on Wednesday

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