Bulldogs return to MW semifinals after 66-55 win over UNLV

Monday, March 11

Las Vegas, Nev.

2:30 p.m. PT

Fresno State

19-11

No. 5 seed UNLV

12-18

UNLV

Fresno State

Photo by: Tim Nwachukwu/NCAA Photos

Bulldogs return to MW semifinals after 66-55 win over UNLV

3/11/2019 9:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Fresno State Postgame Quotes 3.11.19

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

LAS VEGAS – Through a dominant third quarter, Fresno State did not look back after building a 16-point cushion before coasting to 66-55 defeat of UNLV on Monday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center. With the win, the Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West Championship for the sixth time in seven seasons where they will face top-seed Boise State tomorrow at 6 p.m. PT.

Balance was key for the Bulldogs on Monday as four 'Dogs reached double figures in the same game for the 11^th time this season. Senior Candice White paced Fresno State's scoring punch with 17 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting. Inside, sophomores Genna Ogier and Maddi Utti scored 13 apiece and combined for 10 rebounds and eight steals. Aly Gamez added 10 points, three steals and a game-high six assists.

The Lady Rebels had just one player in double figures, senior Katie Powell who recorded 17 points, 14 of which came in the opening half.

Despite smaller in stature, Fresno State held a 38-18 edge in the paint. The points inside were aided by 16 fast break points as the 'Dogs ran at will on the Lady Rebels after forcing 22 turnovers, 14 of which were steals.

How It Happened
Trailing 6-2 after two minutes, the Bulldogs seized control, turning the Lady Rebels over seven times in six minutes as the 'Dogs ran out to 13-0 run to take a 16-5 lead with 1:59 remaining in the quarter. Bree Delaney knocked down a 3-pointer to kick-start the spurt while Utti had a pair of layups in transition and White added a couple buckets. Powell ended the run with a deep 3-pointer at the top of the key for UNLV. A pair of free throws would cut Fresno State's lead to 15-11 after one.

As UNLV pulled to within 19-16 early in the second period, the Bulldogs again put some separation between them and the Lady Rebels. This time it was a 9-0 run in two minutes. White dropped in a trey to push the lead to 28-16 and force UNLV to call a timeout with 5:02 on the clock. Powell answered with the next six UNLV points as the Lady Rebels fought back with a 10-2 stretch. With the lead down to four and seconds remaining in the half, the 'Dogs moved quickly and White got free to knock down an open jumper at the buzzer to give Fresno State a 32-26 advantage.

Fresno State opened the half on a 7-0 run to force UNLV to call its third timeout of the game three minutes into the third after three different 'Dogs accounted for the three field goals. With Utti only playing 10 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, the third quarter signaled her entrance back into the game. The sophomore scored six points in the quarter with four coming in transition. The 'Dogs would hold the Lady Rebels to 3-of-10 from the field in the period compared to their 9-of-16 to take a decided 53-37 advantage after three.

Fresno State would hold a double-digit lead through much of the final quarter despite two early 3-pointers from UNLV. The Lady Rebels would find some momentum late in the game through a 6-0 run that would cut the Bulldogs' lead to 62-53 with 1:42 remaining, but Ogier ended any comeback bid with a triple with 77 seconds left to push the Bulldogs' lead back to 12.

Team Notes

Fresno State advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West Championship for the sixth time in seven seasons.
Finished 2-0 against UNLV this season.
Eliminated the Lady Rebels from the Mountain West Championship four times in seven tournament appearances.
Held a 20-point advantage in the paint (38-18).
Won the transition game with a 16-4 edge in fast break points.
The 22 forced turnovers was the most for the Bulldogs against a Division I opponent since the first two games of the season.
The 14 steals was the most since swiping 14 at Nevada on Jan. 12.
Won the third game of the year when being held to less than six made 3's (3-7).

Player Notes
Candice White – 17 points, 3 assists, 2 steals

Shot 7-of-11 from the floor.
The 63.6 shooting percentage was highest since Feb. 13 at Boise State (69.2).
Has 1,640 career points, six behind Lindsay Logan who sits in third on Fresno State's all-time scoring list.

Genna Ogier – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals

Scored season-high 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
Second double-figure scoring game of the season.
Career-high four steals.

Maddi Utti – 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals

Shot at least 60 percent from the field for the 11^th time this season.
Fourth game of the year with at least four steals, third in the last five games.

Aly Gamez – 10 points, 6 assists, 3 steals

Game-high six assists.
Third game of the season with at least six assists.
Played a game-high 39 minutes.

Up Next
Fourth-seeded Fresno State will meet top-seeded Boise State tomorrow at 6 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game will broadcast live on the Mountain West Network.

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