Bulldogs' defense stifles Aggies, 64-53

Wednesday, February 6

Logan, Utah

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

14-7, 7-3MW

Utah State

10-11, 5-5MW

Fresno State

Utah State

Photo by: Keith Kountz/Fresno St

Bulldogs' defense stifles Aggies, 64-53

2/6/2019 10:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

LOGAN, Utah – Fresno State ended its two-game skid on Wednesday night with a strong defensive effort against Utah State, holding the Aggies to 30.2 percent from the field in a 64-53 win at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Earning her second straight start, Bree Delaney led the Bulldogs in scoring with 15 points. She was joined in double figures by Aly Gamez (14), Maddi Utti (13) and Candice White (10). It was the fifth win for the 'Dogs this season when at least four players landed in double figures in the scoring column.

Hailey Basset paced Utah State with 27 points and nine rebounds.

How It Happened
Unlike a season ago in Logan, Fresno State came out firing, knocking down a trio 3-pointers in the first five-plus minutes. The second and third came from Delaney and Utti to start an 8-0 run. The Bulldogs would score just four points in the final three minutes and finished the quarter with a 19-17 lead.

Utah State managed to grab the lead back twice early in the second period, the second coming after 3-pointer from Eliza West with 6:46 on the clock. The Bulldogs locked down from that point on as Utah State was held off of the scoreboard the remainder of the half. Fresno State closed the period on a 12-0 run, with the final six points coming from the free throw line while the Aggies missed their final 10 shots of the quarter.

The Bulldogs pushed their lead up to 14 early in the third behind a pair of 3's from Gamez. A head's up play from White following up her missed 3-point shot led to put back. That was followed by a 10-second call for Utah State to force a timeout from the Aggies as the 'Dogs led 46-32. The Bulldogs allowed just three made baskets in the quarter, holding the Aggies to 20 percent shooting as they took a 50-37 lead in the final 10 minutes.

Utti extended the Bulldogs' lead to 15 at the start of the fourth but Utah State began to slowly chip away. Trailing by 11 with under five minutes to play, Bassett scored the next six points of the game as Fresno State went scoreless for two-plus minutes, cutting the Aggies deficit to six. Holding Utah State to 1-of-8 to finish the game, the Bulldogs would seal the contest at the free throw line, knocking down six in the final two minutes.

Team Notes

Moved to 4-1 on the road in conference play.
Shot 19-of-19 from the free throw, the fifth game this season without a missed attempt.
Held the Aggies to 30.2 percent from the field, the third lowest percentage for an opponent this season.
Moved to 13-2 when making more 3's than their opponent.
Won third game of the year when shooting below 40 percent from the floor (38.8 percent).

Player Notes
Bree Delaney – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Led the team in scoring for the fourth time this season.
Shot 2-of-5 from 3.
5-of-5 from the free throw line.

Aly Gamez – 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists

Game-high four steals.
8-of-8 from the free throw line.
Tied for a team-high seven rebounds.

Up Next
Fresno State will return home on Saturday afternoon to host UNLV at 2 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. It will be the only regular-season matchup between the two teams.

"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.