Bulldogs pull off thriller in Laramie, 66-64

Wednesday, February 27

Laramie, Wyo.

5:30 p.m. PT

Fresno State

18-9, 11-5MW

Wyoming

18-6, 11-4MW

Fresno State

Wyoming

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs pull off thriller in Laramie, 66-64

2/27/2019 10:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Behind a career night from Maddi Utti, Fresno State escaped Arena-Auditorium with a 66-64 come-from-behind victory on Wednesday night. The Bulldog sophomore scored a career-high 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting, including scoring 10 of Fresno State's final 15 points of the game.

Trailing for nearly 34 minutes, the Bulldogs outscored the Cowgirls 17-10 during the final four minutes to leave Laramie with their third win in the last five trips.

To go with her scoring, Utti also swiped a career-high six steals and blocked four shots. Candice White added 18 points with 14 of those coming in the second half.

How It Happened
Karla Erjavec opened the scoring in the game with a 3-pointer for Wyoming on its second possession but the Bulldogs were able to grab their first lead at 6-5 with 4:52 on the clock. Taylor Rusk dropped in a 3 to regain the lead for the Cowgirls. Wyoming would push their lead up to five late in the half but a steal and run out for Gamez got the 'Dogs back to within 3 at 15-12 at the end of the quarter.

Quinn Weidemann pushed Wyoming's lead to six to start the second but the Bulldogs countered with a 6-0 run to level the game at 18-18 with 7:04 on the clock. Bailee Cotton would give the Cowgirls a 24-20 lead in the quarter but a five-point stretch for the 'Dogs late pulled them within one at 26-25 to end the half.

During the first seven minutes of the third quarter neither team could find much separation as the largest lead stood at three for Wyoming. Weidemann would extend the advantage to 43-39 with a 3-pointer with 2:17 on the clock. After a layup from Jordanna Porter cut the deficit back to two, Marta Gomez and Clara Tapia built the lead up to five, an advantage the Cowgirls would take into the final period.

Fresno State pulled within one at 50-49 with 7:35 remaining but Wyoming answered by building the lead back up to five with under five minutes on the clock. In the final four minutes, Fresno State began to steal the momentum. Utti started it with an and-1 layup. White then forced a steal and turned it in a jumper to level the game at 54-54 with 3:20 remaining. Wyoming then answered with a 3-pointer from Weidemann.

After a missed 3-point attempt by Bree Delaney, the Cowgirls had a chance to extend the lead but Utti forced a steal that led Aly Gamez cuting the deficit to 57-55 after splitting a pair at the line. Gamez then forced a steal at midcourt and found Utti in transition for a layup. After forcing the Cowgirls into another turnover, White gave the Bulldogs their first lead since early in the third period. With a minute to go, Utti stole a pass in the Cowgirl backcourt and extended the Bulldogs' advantage to 61-57. Then the game turned to the free throw line at both ends. As Fresno State held a 64-62 advantage with 18 seconds remaining, Utti was the lone Bulldog who could get free to receive the inbound pass after a timeout but the sophomore calmly sank both free throws after being fouled. Erjavec answered with a layup for Wyoming and Taylor Rusk then came up with a steal on the ensuing inbound pass but the Bulldogs forced a quick layup that fell short for the Cowgirls.

Team Notes

First win this season when allowing more 3-pointers after previously being 0-6.
Shot second-highest percentage of the season at 56.8.
Moved to 6-1 on the year when shooting over 50 percent with all seven coming in Mountain West play.
The 13 steals in the most since Jan. 5 at Colorado State.
The seven blocks is the second-most in a game this season.
Held a 36-10 advantage in points in the paint.
Shot lowest 3-point percentage of the season, 9.1 percent after shooting 9.5 percent the previous game.
Held Wyoming to below 40 percent from the field for only the third time in conference play (39.2 percent).

Player Notes
Maddi Utti – 26 points, 6 steals, 4 blocks 2 assists

Scored a career-high 26 points.
Shot a career-best 10-of-11 from the field.
Swiped a career-high six steals.
Blocked four shots, the second most in a game in her career.

Candice White – 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals

Moved to No. 4 on the Fresno State all-time scoring list, passing Wendy Martell.
Eclipsed the 1,600-point mark and now sits at 1,605.

Up Next
The Bulldogs will return to Fresno on March 4 for their final home game of the regular season. Prior to the 7 p.m. tipoff, Fresno State will honor its senior class as a part of Senior Night.

"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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