'Dogs head south to face Aztecs

Game 17: Fresno State (12-4, 5-0 MW) vs. San Diego State (8-10, 3-3 MW)
Jan. 15, 2020 • 6:30 p.m. PT • San Diego, Calif. (Viejas Arena)
Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Series History: San Diego State leads 28-23
Last Meeting: Fresno State won 79-54 in Fresno, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2020

Bulldog Bones

With back-to-back overtime wins, in which Fresno State trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter of both game, the Bulldogs improved to 12-4, their second-best start to a season under Jaime White.
The 16-point comeback against New Mexico on Jan. 8 maintained the Bulldogs' unbeaten record in Mountain West play. The 'Dogs sit atop the conference standings at 5-0, one game ahead of San Jose State and UNLV which both lost to Fresno State on their home courts.
The Bulldogs are tied with Boise State for the most overall wins in the league with 12.
Fresno State is 12-0 this season when scoring more than 70 points, yet is 0-4 when it does not reach 70.
While the offense has had a strong hand in the Bulldogs' wins as the team is scoring its highest average in program history (78.4 ppg), the defense has been the difference as the 'Dogs have yet to lose when scoring 17 or more points off turnovers (9-0). Jan. 8 marked Fresno State's first win when scoring less points off turnovers than its opponent did in a win.
Fresno State lays claim to the only trio in the country that ranks in the top four of any league in scoring with freshmen Hanna Cavinder (16.6) Haley Cavinder (16.1) and junior Maddi Utti (17.9).

Scouting San Diego State
- San Diego State enters the new year with a 8-10 record and sits at 3-3 in the Mountain West.
- The Aztecs are coming off of an 86-72 defeat at Boise State on Saturday.
- SDSU's offense ranks eighth in the league with an average of 62.4 points per game.
- The Aztecs have been without the services of 2019 MW All-Freshman Team selection Mallory Adams after the sophomore was injured six games into the season after averaging 12.8 points and 6.0 rebounds.
- Oregon State transfer Taylor Kalmer leads the team at 14.6 points per game (6th in MW) while sophomore Sophia Ramos averages 12.9 per game (14th in MW).
- The Aztecs commit the 17th-least amount of fouls in the nation with just 14.0 per contest.

Series with San Diego State
- San Diego State holds a five-game edge in the all-time series and leads the Bulldogs by two games in Fresno.
- Fresno State got back to its recent winning ways against the Aztecs on Jan. 1, winning on their home court 79-54.
- After the 'Dogs won nine of 10 games in the series, SDSU halted that run last year with a 59-58 win in Fresno on March 4, 2019.
- Prior to the loss, the Bulldogs had won five straight games by an average of eight points.

Starting conference right
This year marks the third time in eight seasons that Fresno State opened Mountain West play 5-0 (2015, 2016, 2020) with all three coming under Jaime White. The 'Dogs opened MW play with nine straight wins in 2015 and eight in 2016.

Owning the night
Seven of Fresno State's 12 wins this season have come when the sun has gone day down. Only one of the Bulldogs' four losses have come at night. Fresno State has outscored opponents by 11 points per game and averaging 75.5 points.

Turnovers matter...most of the time
Throughout the majority of the season, Fresno State has feasted on its opponents' turnovers, averaging 23.3 points per game off of turnovers in its 11 wins prior to facing New Mexico on Jan. 8. Forcing just a 11 turnovers and scoring only seven points off of them, the Bulldogs were forced to win their first game of the season when scoring less points off turnovers, finishing the night with a season-worst -17 point differential.
- Fresno State has won both of its games this season when facing a double-digit deficit in points off turnovers (Montana, New Mexico).
- The 'Dogs are 9-0 when scoring at least 17 points off turnovers, and have lost just once when outscoring their opponents in the category (BYU).

Better late than never
While Fresno State was just 1-4 when trailing at the half heading into 2020, the 'Dogs have turned a leaf with the New Year. Within a five-day span, the Bulldogs faced two double-digit fourth-quarter deficits, forcing overtime at San Jose State and New Mexico. Fresno State trailed by as much by 12 with 8:30 to play against the Spartans and 16 with nine minutes to go against New Mexico.
- The 'Dogs trailed for just 29 seconds combined in the two overtime periods.
- It was the third time in program history that Fresno State has ever played back-to-back overtime games but it was the first time it has ever won both games.

Unselfish
With its four highest assist totals of the season coming since the start of December, there's no secret to why the Bulldogs have gone 7-1 in that stretch. Distribution has been key and looking for the extra pass has been advantageous for the potent offense. The Bulldogs have averaged 19.9 assists per game since the start of December, more than three higher than their season average which ranks third in the MW (16.7 apg).
- Ranking third in the league in assists, the Bulldogs' low turnover frequency has them leading the MW and ranking No. 11 in the NCAA with a 1.38 assist-to-turnover ratio. The rate is significantly higher than the program record of 1.11.
- Three Bulldogs rank in the top six in the MW, and in the top 90 nationally, in assist-to-turnover ratio with Aly Gamez leading the league with a 2.29 (32nd in NCAA).

Crashing the glass
Following a its worst rebounding disparity this season at Santa Clara on Dec. 21 (-15), Fresno State has won the battle on the glass in three of its last four games. Against San Jose State and New Mexico, the Bulldogs grabbed more than 50, the first and second-highest totals (57 and 59) this season.
- Fresno State is tied with New Mexico for the league lead in conference games, averaging 39.5 rebounds per game.

Pulling the strings
Fresno State's offense has been started by the 5-foot-6 guard trio of junior Aly Gamez and freshmen Haley and Hanna Cavinder. The "Mini Three" all three sit in the top seven in the MW in assist-to-turnover with Gamez at a league-best 2.39. Hanna ranks third in assists per game with 4.25.
- Gamez, Haley and Hanna have each posted at least three games with seven assists or more.

Closing in on 1,000
WIth 691 career points entering this season, Maddi Utti closing in on becoming the 25th Fresno State player to reach 1,000 points. The junior is currently 22 shy of the career milestone.
- Utti's numbers have progressively gotten better throughout her career, averaging 9.3 as a freshman and 12.3 as a sophomore but the biggest jump has come this year as the junior is posting a team-high 17.9.

Welcomed return
On Dec. 28, Aly Gamez made her first appearance in three weeks. The junior came off the bench to score 12 points in 19 minutes while shooting 5-of-8 from the field. It matched the Gamez's second-most points in a game this season. Three days later, Gamez dropped another 12 points to go with a 7-0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Three days after that, the junior dropped 16 in an overtime win at San Jose State.
- An X-factor this season after being the Bulldogs' No. 3 option last year, the Bulldogs are 5-0 this season when Gamez reaches double figures scoring.
- Just as effective as her scoring has been Gamez's ability to make plays for others, dishing out 19 assists in the Bulldogs' three conference games in 2020 (6.3 apg).

Doubling up
Despite her diminutive size, Haley Cavinder has proven that looks can be deceiving. Armed with a 28.5-inch vertical and the tenacity to match, the 5-foot-6 guard has piled up four double-doubles in the last five games, with the last three coming in the first three conference games since the start of 2020. Since Jan. 1, Haley is averaging 15.3 points and 13.0 rebounds per game.

A freshman among rare company
With her rapid rise on the glass, Haley Cavinder has put herself among some of the best in the nation. Averaging 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists, the freshman is one of seven players in the NCAA averaging at least 15, 7 and 3. Cavinder is joined on the list by Arella Guirantes (Rutgers), Valerie Higgins (Pacific), Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon), Mikayla Pivec (Oregon State), Rachel Thompson (Colgate) and Megan Walker (UConn).
- At 5-foot-6, Cavinder is the only player on the list who is under 5-foot-10.

Scoring at will
One thing Hanna Cavinder has been able to do for the 'Dogs this season is put the ball in the bucket. The freshman has done it in bunches this season, totaling a team-best 15 double-digit scoring games. Her five 20-point games is tied with her sister Haley for second all-time among freshmen at Fresno State.
- Cavinder ranks third in the MW, and fourth among freshman nationally in scoring at 16.6 points per game.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

'Dogs head south to face Aztecs

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Haley Cavinder

Hanna Cavinder

Aly Gamez

Maddi Utti

Fresno State Athletics