'Dogs return home to host UNLV on Saturday

Game 22: Fresno State (14-7, 7-3 MW) vs. UNLV (7-14, 5-5 MW)
Feb. 9, 2019 – 2 p.m. PT – Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Live Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Sidearmstats
Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
Series History: UNLV leads 18-17
Last Meeting: UNLV won 73-58 on Feb. 21, 2018 in Fresno, Calif.
Up Next: at Boise State (Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. PT)

Promotions

Staff and Faculty Appreciation Day. Join us in honoring our Fresno State Staff and Faculty.
Students, join us for our Saturday Student giveaway, mini corndogs. First students in the door will get FREE mini corndogs.
After the game, Junior posters autograph session and your chance to meet the team.
Halftime performance by local youth cheer team, Highlanders Youth Cheer.

Bulldog Bones

Fresno State sits in sole possession of third place in the Mountain West standings at 6-3, two games back of Boise State, one back of New Mexico and half game ahead of Wyoming.
Fresno State is in the midst of a six game stretch in which all six opponents rank in the top six of the conference (1-2). The six games include two against New Mexico. The games are split between home (0-1) and away (1-1).
Averaging 72.8 points per game during the nonconference season, the Bulldogs are posting 68.9 per contest in league games after scoring north of 70 points in only two of their last six games.
The 'Dogs rank second in the NCAA in free-throw percentage, knocking them down at a clip of 78.9 percent. Fresno State's top five scorers are each shooting over 79 percent from the line on the year.
Fresno State's double-digit scoring trio has remained the same from a year ago: Aly Gamez (10.9 ppg), Maddi Utti (11.8 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 2.7 points per game. Owning a conference-high seven 20-point performances in 10 conference games, the senior is averaging 21.0 points in MW games.
Do-it-all sophomore Maddi Utti also ranks third in the league in field-goal percentage (.451), fourth in the league in steals (1.8 spg), sixth in rebounding (7.1 rbg) and 15th in scoring (11.8 ppg).
With 10 points at Utah State, Candice White became the sixth player in Fresno State history to surpass 1,500 career points.
Fresno State tied a program-record for free-throw percentage in a game at Utah State, shooting 19-of-19 from the charity stripe.
At Utah State, the Bulldogs saw a game decided by double digits for the first time in its last five games they won 64-53.

Scouting UNLV

UNLV enters Saturday's matchup with a 7-14 overall record and sit in a tie for fifth in the Mountain West at 5-5.
After sharing the MW regular-season title last year, the graduation of Brooke Johnson and injuries to key starters during the nonconference season led to a 2-9 record for UNLV prior to getting into league play.
UNLV ranks in the top four in the conference in rebounding margin (1st: 3.6), rebounds per game (4th: 38.1) and free throw attempts (4th: 396) as their strength lies in the paint.
UNLV averages 60.1 points per game overall on the year with a slight bump in league play to 64.0 per contest in Mountain West games.
With their team at full-strength for the conference, the Lady Rebels ranks first in rebounding margin (+7.0), second in field goal percentage defense (.378), 3-point percentage defense (.291), fourth in scoring defense (62.5 ppg) and fifth in scoring margin (+1.5 ppg).
Senior Katie Powell ranks eighth in the league in scoring at 14.4 points per game. In conference games, she ranks sixth in scoring (14.5 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (7.2 rpg).
Nikki Wheatley joins Powell in double figures at 11.4 points per game.
The Lady Rebels have three players rank in the top 20 in rebounding in conference games (Powell - 7.2, Strawther - 6.1, Wheatley - 4.7).

History with UNLV

UNLV holds the all-time series lead, 18-17.
The two sides split last season's series with each winning on one another's home court. Fresno State won on a 3-pointer at the buzzer in Las Vegas while the Lady Rebels earned a 15-point victory in Fresno.
The Bulldogs are 5-2 at the Save Mart Center versus UNLV but have dropped two of their last three games.
Since 2015, Fresno State has won all five contests that were decided by six points or less but lost both when the margin was double digits.

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 13-2 when making more 3's than their opponents while going 0-5 when allowing more.

Fresno State has connected from the 3-point line 10 or more times in a game on six occasions.
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).
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).

Taking the easy ones

The 'Dogs are ranked No. 2 in the country in free-throw percentage, knocking down 206-of-261 to shoot 78.9 percent on the season. This comes a year after setting the program's single-season record at 75.2 percent (369-491).

The No. 2 ranking is the highest the 'Dogs have been this season in the category.
The Bulldogs have not missed a free throw in five different games. A feat that had only happened three times in the previous decade.
Fresno State's five most minute-heavy players are each shooting at least 79 percent from the line.

Historic charity

On Feb. 6 at Utah State, Fresno State tied the program record for the highest free-throw percentage in a game, shooting 19-of-19 from the charity stripe. The record was set on Feb. 21, 2011 at New Mexico State, which still stands as the conference record for the WAC.

The 19-of-19 ranks second in Mountain West history behind Air Force's 21-of-21 versus Boise State on Feb. 20, 2013.

The Gauntlet

To be the best, you must beat the best. Sitting at 7-3 in the conference, with a 2-3 record against the top half of the league, Fresno State's seeding at the conference tournament next month will likely be defined during its current six-game stretch which began with Wyoming on Jan. 30.

The Bulldogs are in a stretch in which they face six opponents who all sit in the league's top six (3 home, 3 away).
Fresno State hosts Wyoming (fourth) and UNLV (fifth) while playing road games at Boise State (first) and Utah State (fifth). The 'Dogs will face New Mexico (second) twice during the stretch.

A change in the lineup

Fresno State had started the same five players in its first 19 games of the season but that changed on Feb. 2 at New Mexico. Katelin Noyer and Bree Delaney entered the lineup, replacing Genna Ogier and Kristina Cavey.

It was marked Delaney's first start since Dec. 30, 2017 and Noyer's first since Dec. 12, 2017.
The following game at Utah State signaled another change as Breanne Knishka entered the lineup for Noyer, her first start since the final game last year.
The group of senior Candice White, junior Kristina Cavey and sophomores Aly Gamez, Genna Ogier and Maddi Utti had started the previous 19 games.
Nine Bulldogs average at least 10 minutes per game.

Utti-lity player

Like a season ago, Maddi Utti has produced in all areas for Fresno State on the court, playing in the post, guarding on the perimeter, running the floor or finding teammates, the sophomore has been a key cog for the Bulldogs in her second season. Utti is one of three players in the league who rank in the top 15 in scoring, field-goal percentage, rebounding and steals along with teammate Candice White and Utah State's Shannon Dufficy.

A change in role
The Bulldogs' first option off of the bench, Bree Delaney has shifted into the starting lineup for the last two games. In those games, the sophomore is averaing 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 40 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3 (6-of-14).

Delaney has started consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2017.

Making her mark

One of the top shooting guards in the country, Candice White has scored 399 points through 21 games this season, averaging a team-high 19.0 points per game to lead the Mountain West and rank No. 38 in the NCAA.

She currently sits at No. 6 on the all-time scoring list, moving up 14 spots during the first half of the season. White has made her mark on the list in essentially two-plus seasons after playing only 69 minutes during her freshman year, scoring just 13 points.
The senior is nine points from entering the top five.

"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.

'Dogs return home to host UNLV on Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kristina Cavey

Bree Delaney

Aly Gamez

Breanne Knishka

Katelin Noyer

Genna Ogier

Maddi Utti

Candice White

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs return home to host UNLV on Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kristina Cavey

Bree Delaney

Aly Gamez

Breanne Knishka

Katelin Noyer

Genna Ogier

Maddi Utti

Candice White

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