'Dogs fall 77-72 to Pacific in first round of the WNIT

Wednesday, March 20

Fresno, Calif.

7 p.m. PT

Fresno State

19-13

Pacific

19-12

Pacific

Fresno State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

'Dogs fall 77-72 to Pacific in first round of the WNIT

3/20/2019 10:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery (Keith Kountz)

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

FRESNO, Calif. – In a game that saw 10 ties and 13 lead changes, Fresno State came up just short against Pacific, falling 77-72 in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday night at the Save Mart Center. Senior Candice White closed out her career with a season-high 29 points, the fifth-most points in a single game for the senior as she finished her career third on the all-time scoring list with 1,697 points.

Along with White's game high, Maddi Utti was the only other Bulldog in double figures, scoring 15 points to go with eight rebounds. Six Tigers finished in double figures, led by Valerie Higgins' 20 points.

Fresno State finished the season with a 19-13 overall record.

How It Happened
Fresno State jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the first minute and 39 seconds of the game, with five of those coming from White on an evening that was a trend as she lit up the scoreboard all night. Pacific called a quick timeout to regroup and that proved worthy of being used as the Tigers went on a 21-7 run over the next 5:14 and grabbed a 21-14 lead.

The 'Dogs called a timeout of their own with 2:56 left in the first quarter and bounced back to close the gap to two points at the end of the quarter, 25-23. White was 4-of-6 with two 3's for 10 points to lead all scorers in the opening quarter.

After the 'Dogs closed within two to end the first quarter, both teams battled it out in the second quarter trading baskets. Neither team could grab a lead greater than three points in the quarter and no greater than two points over the final 6:49 of the first half. The Bulldogs held a 40-38 lead at the break.

Pacific would take its largest lead since the first quarter at the 4:39 mark in the third, 53-45, using a jumper, a 3-pointer and then a layup that would signal a Bulldogs' timeout after a quick 7-0 run.

The 'Dogs started to chip away, narrowing their deficit to as a little as three points, but Pacific got their 12th second chance point of the quarter to balloon the lead back to five, 61-56, to close the third period.

Entering the fourth down by five, the Bulldogs went on a 13-2 run to open the quarter and took a 69-63 lead midway through. During that stretch, with an and-1, White tied the game with a layup and a converted free-throw to knot the game, 63-63. Aly Gamez then put the 'Dogs on top, 65-63, to take their first lead since the Bulldogs' first field goal in the third quarter.

Suddenly, the Bulldogs' 69-63 lead was narrowed to one point with 3:14 to go, as UOP went on a quick 5-0 spurt, and just like that the Tigers led 70-69 on a steal and score by Lianna Tillman. Genna Ogier answered with a bucket to put Fresno State in front, 71-70, but that would be the Bulldogs' final field goal of the game as Pacific ran away to a 77-72 win in the final two minutes.

Team Notes

Fresno State lost its eighth game of the season when making less than six 3-pointers.
Three Bulldogs played 40 minutes, a first this season (Aly Gamez, Maddi Utti, Candice White).
Fresno State's 19 turnovers is tied for its second-most this season.
Allowed at least 40 rebounds for the seventh time this season, dropping the last three games when doing so after winning the first four.
Fresno State lost only its third game of the season when outshooting its opponent (48.4%-39.5%).

Player Notes
Candice White – 29 points, five rebounds, five assists

Scored at least 15 points in a half for the 11^th time this season (15 in the first half)
Third-career game with 29 points, fifth highest of her career
13^th game this season with at least 20 points
Fourth game of the season with at least five assists
Finished career with 1,697 points, third-most in Fresno State history

Maddi Utti – 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals

23^rd game of the season in the double figures
12^th game with at least eight rebounds

Quotes
Jaimie White, Fresno State head coach
On the game …
"It was a very long year. We started in July and went on the International Tour, we have been trying to keep them together and healthy for a long time and I think they have had their toll. We had a chance to win tonight, we just turned the ball over late and turned it over right to layups and that was unfortunate. We gave up 19 offensive rebounds. Katelin Noyer and Lydia Friberg came in as an inside presence, but we need those offensive rebounds."

On her message to the team…
"This is the first time that we have ended here at the Save Mart Center, so I wanted them to know how proud I was of them, especially our seniors. The seniors were some of our first recruiting class and we wanted to make sure that they knew how much we cared about them and how much they meant to our program. We don't want to win this way. We played a good season, but there were some games that we left out there on the table. Good teams don't leave games on the table."

On Candice White…
"It means a lot as a coach when you have a player who trusts you and trusts your system, who is always positive and focuses on what she needs to do to get better. That is so valuable. It is also the culture that we want here. I think we have asked her to do so much and she has constantly answered and we are so proud of her. Hopefully this isn't the end of her playing career, but we hope that when she is around she will come by once in a while."

On saying goodbye to the Red Wave this year…
"I am so grateful to be a part of this program and I am grateful for the support that we have here. It is not something that you have everywhere. I know that they back us 110 percent and that means a lot as a coach. It also means a lot, win, lose or draw, that they are there being positive and wanting us to do better. That means a lot to me. We sing the song at end of the game and I look and I see them stand when we sing the song. I feel like in that moment, we connect. The community, the University, the players, the program; we are all one. That is a fun thing to be a part of."

Candice White, Fresno State senior
On what she remembers most in her time as a Bulldog…
"Definitely the fans of all ages. Seeing them after every game and being able to talk with them, relate with them and build relationships with them over my four years has been really nice."

On saying goodbye to the Red Wave…
"They love the Bulldog song and it is really nice to see them engaging in it. They are so proud of us and they tell us every time they get the chance to. I am always going to remember how supportive they were of us. It has been a great experience these last four years and I wouldn't change it for the world. Thank you so much for all of your support. Time and time again, you guys come in and give us all that you can and it means so much being able to play in front of a great crowd like the Red Wave."

"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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