Hot shooting leads Bulldogs to 77-70 win at Air Force

Wednesday, February 20

USAF Academy, Colo.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

17-8, 10-4MW

Air Force

8-17, 4-10MW

Fresno State

Air Force

Photo by: Keith Kountz/Fresno St

Hot shooting leads Bulldogs to 77-70 win at Air Force

2/20/2019 10:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Behind a 26-point third quarter, Fresno State collected its 10^th conference win of the season with a 77-70 win over Air Force on Wednesday night at Clune Arena. The Bulldogs built their lead in the third, outscoring the Falcons by 11 as they shot 83.3 percent from the field in the quarter, and a season-high 58.2 percent overall for the night.

Maddi Utti paced the 'Dogs with her fourth double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds to go with four assists. The sophomore recorded her best shooting game of the year going 10-of-12 from the field. Aly Gamez chipped in 15 points while Bree Delaney added 12 points and eight assists.

Air Force finished with four players in double figures led by Kaelin Immel's game-high 22 points.

How It Happened
Air Force led through the first half of the opening quarter before Fresno State grabbed its first lead of the game through an 8-2 run with four different players getting to the basket. Holding a 17-13 lead with just over two minutes on the clock, the Bulldogs would maintain the four-point lead through the end of the quarter as the advantage stood at 21-17.

Despite 3's from Gamez and Delaney early in the quarter, the Falcons chipped into the Bulldogs' lead. Behind a pair of 3-pointers from Emily Conroe, Air Force regained the lead at 35-33 with 3:20 remaining in the half. Gamez would counter for the Bulldogs with an and-1 and Utti followed up with a pair of baskets to give the Bulldogs a 40-35 lead. Conroe hit a jumper with seconds remaining before the buzzer as Fresno State took a 40-37 lead into the break.

Air Force pulled level early in the third at 42-42 as Haley Jones knocked down the Falcon's sixth 3 of the night. Fresno State then began to get the breathing room it was looking for, outscoring the Falcons 24-10 to close the half. The run saw a trio of 3's with Delaney draining two, the second with 11 seconds on the clock which gave the Bulldogs a 66-42 advantage.

Fresno State would build the lead to their largest of the night at 15 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter behind a 3 from Jordanna Porter. The 'Dogs would maintain a double-digit lead throughout most of the final period before Air Force would close with the final five of the game as the game would end at 77-70.

Team Notes

Shot a season-high 58.2 percent from the field.
Won the 16^th of 17 games with when knocking down at least seven 3-pointers.
Scored more than 70 points for the fourth straight game.
The score finished 77-70 for the second consecutive game.

Player Notes
Maddi Utti – 21 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists

Fifth double-double of the year.
Third 20-point game of the season.
Shot 10-of-12 for the game.
Shot 83.3 percent from the floor for the second straight game.

Aly Gamez – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Shot 5-of-8 from the floor.
Shot 2-of-3 from 3.

Bree Delaney – 12 points, 8 assists

Dished at least eight assists for the third time this season.
Knocked down three of the Bulldogs seven 3-pointers.
Shot 50 percent from 3.

Up Next
The Bulldogs will return home on Saturday to host Nevada at 2 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State will observe National Girls and Women in Sports Day throughout the day.

Follow us on:
Twitter:  @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram:  fresnostwbb
Facebook:  FresnoStateAthletics