Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, January 18
Fresno, CA
2:00 PM PT
Fresno State
14-4 (7-0MW)
89
vs
59
Wyoming
8-9 (4-4MW)
1
2
3
4
F
Wyoming
11
16
12
20
59
Fresno State
30
20
16
23
89
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
'Dogs dismantle Cowgirls in 89-59 win as Utti joins 1,000 point club
1/18/2020 7:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FRESNO, Calif. – For the fourth time in seven conference games, the Fresno State women's basketball stepped on the gas and never looked back, earning yet another Mountain West win in wire-to-wire fashion, defeating Wyoming 89-59 on Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center. The culmination of the day came with 1:02 on the clock in the third quarter as a defensive rebound by Kendyll Kinzer turned into an outlet pass to Maddi Utti for a layup on the break as the junior scored the 1,000 point of her career.
Utti, like games leading into today, filled the stat sheet, posting 11 points, 16 rebounds and tying her career high in assists with six for the second time in two weeks. The junior wasn't without help though, filling up the scoring column were the Cavinder twins as Hanna Cavinder shot an efficient 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 from the line for 20 points to go with six assists. Haley Cavinder, for the second-straight game dropped five 3-pointers en route to 19 points. Aly Gamez also quietly found herself in double figures with 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field.
Wytalla Motta and Kinzer finished just outside of double figures with eight points. Motta also grabbed seven rebounds while Kinzer had four.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs came out shooting at a blistering pace, racing out to a 9-0 lead before it ballooned 18-5 five-and-a-half minutes in as the 'Dogs connected on eight of their first 10 shots. The onslaught continued as the Cavinder twins accounted for 12 of their 14 first-quarter points during a 12-4. Gamez dropped in a her first triple of the night with a minute to play in the period that saw Fresno State take a commanding 30-11 lead.
A layup from Motta to open the second was followed by back-to-back 3-pointers from Hanna and Gamez to give the 'Dogs a 27-point advantage. Wyoming pulled the deficit back under 20 through an 8-0 run but two minutes later, Kinzer and Haley bookended their own 8-0 answer with pair of threes. Fresno State took a 50-27 lead into the half after shooting 20-of-40 (50 percent) from the field and 8-of-14 (44.4 percent) from the 3.
With the lead standing at 18 with 7:44 on the clock in the third after Quinn Weideman knocked in a 3-pointer for the Cowgirls, the 'Dogs hit a 12-1 stretch as Haley sank her fourth and fifth 3's of the day in the run. Fresno State built its lead to as much as 32 midway through the fourth quarter before closing out the game with Genna Ogier's second 3-pointer of the night and a layup from Jordanna Porter to end the game at 89-59.
Team Notes
Hanna Cavinder - 20 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
Head Coach Jaime White
On the Bulldogs' hot start…
"We knew they did well in the first half and in first quarters and we wanted to make sure that didn't happen today. We had a great first quarter. Haley Cavinder was unconscious. We haven't shot the three well, but we did tonight. And we needed that actually."
On Maddi Utti…
"Proud of Maddi. Her shot wasn't falling early, but she hung in there and kept trying and just a warrior. Maddi works hard every day, whether she plays 40 minutes or not, she comes and plays as hard as anybody. She deserves all the recognition she's getting. Just an exceptional athlete, she's worked so hard."
On next matchup with Colorado State…
"Colorado State beat Wyoming at Wyoming, that's a good game. I think as they get healthier and they've got a lot of transfers that are playing for the first time, they're going to be better. Our mentality is every team is a number one team and every night is going to be a fight and we have to do whatever it takes to win."
Maddi Utti, Junior, Forward
On joining the 1000 point club…
"It means a lot. I'm really excited, I'm at a loss for words honestly. My teammates were really great and they were trying to get me the ball and everything. It's good."
On her individual goals playing with the Bulldogs…
"Coming in freshman year I didn't know what to expect. I had no expectations really and then freshman year, it really opened my eyes that I could be a big part of this program and I just wanted to continue to do that throughout my time here."
On the team's recent success, the support from the fans, and playing teams giving their best shot at them…
"It's really good having the Red Wave here. It's amazing and it definitely helps us play better when we hear them in the crowd. We're really excited every game and we know that the team we're going to play is going to want to give us their best game. We just have to play our best every game and do what we need to do to win."
Next Up
Fresno State will remain at home next week to host Colorado State on Wednesday. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center and will air locally on KAIL-TV and stream on the Mountain West Network.
"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 call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram: fresnostwbb
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Utti, like games leading into today, filled the stat sheet, posting 11 points, 16 rebounds and tying her career high in assists with six for the second time in two weeks. The junior wasn't without help though, filling up the scoring column were the Cavinder twins as Hanna Cavinder shot an efficient 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 from the line for 20 points to go with six assists. Haley Cavinder, for the second-straight game dropped five 3-pointers en route to 19 points. Aly Gamez also quietly found herself in double figures with 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field.
Wytalla Motta and Kinzer finished just outside of double figures with eight points. Motta also grabbed seven rebounds while Kinzer had four.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs came out shooting at a blistering pace, racing out to a 9-0 lead before it ballooned 18-5 five-and-a-half minutes in as the 'Dogs connected on eight of their first 10 shots. The onslaught continued as the Cavinder twins accounted for 12 of their 14 first-quarter points during a 12-4. Gamez dropped in a her first triple of the night with a minute to play in the period that saw Fresno State take a commanding 30-11 lead.
A layup from Motta to open the second was followed by back-to-back 3-pointers from Hanna and Gamez to give the 'Dogs a 27-point advantage. Wyoming pulled the deficit back under 20 through an 8-0 run but two minutes later, Kinzer and Haley bookended their own 8-0 answer with pair of threes. Fresno State took a 50-27 lead into the half after shooting 20-of-40 (50 percent) from the field and 8-of-14 (44.4 percent) from the 3.
With the lead standing at 18 with 7:44 on the clock in the third after Quinn Weideman knocked in a 3-pointer for the Cowgirls, the 'Dogs hit a 12-1 stretch as Haley sank her fourth and fifth 3's of the day in the run. Fresno State built its lead to as much as 32 midway through the fourth quarter before closing out the game with Genna Ogier's second 3-pointer of the night and a layup from Jordanna Porter to end the game at 89-59.
Team Notes
- Fresno State remained atop the Mountain West standings at 7-0. It is the third-longest win streak to open up Mountain West play with all three coming under Jaime White (2015 – 9; 2016 – 8).
- The 30-point win was the largest margin of victory against a Mountain West opponent for a Jaime White led team. It is the largest margin against a MW opponent for the Bulldogs since defeating Air Force 77-43 on Jan. 8, 2014.
- The Bulldogs moved to 5-0 when four players finished in double figures.
- Fresno State is 10-0 when leading at the half this season.
- The 'Dogs shot better than 40 percent from 3 in back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Bulldogs recorded their second best shooting game from 3 this year at 44.4 percent with its second-most made 3's in a game with 13.
Hanna Cavinder - 20 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
- With her sixth 20-point game this season, she joins Haley Cavinder and Jaleesa Ross for the most by a freshman in a season in Fresno State history.
- Fifth time recording a six-assist game.
- Sixth time leading the Bulldogs in scoring this season.
- Scored double figures in a single quarter for the fifth time this season after recording 10 points in the third.
- Scored her 1,000th career point on her final made free throw.
- Recorded fourth consecutive double-double with her 18th career double-double which ties Stacey Cornaggia for seventh in Fresno State history.
- Grabbed a team high of 16 rebounds, her third game in a row with at least 16.
- Second six-assist game this season which ties her career-high.
- Recorded back-to-back games with five made 3-point, fourth on the season.
- Finished the game 5-of-7 from 3.
Head Coach Jaime White
On the Bulldogs' hot start…
"We knew they did well in the first half and in first quarters and we wanted to make sure that didn't happen today. We had a great first quarter. Haley Cavinder was unconscious. We haven't shot the three well, but we did tonight. And we needed that actually."
On Maddi Utti…
"Proud of Maddi. Her shot wasn't falling early, but she hung in there and kept trying and just a warrior. Maddi works hard every day, whether she plays 40 minutes or not, she comes and plays as hard as anybody. She deserves all the recognition she's getting. Just an exceptional athlete, she's worked so hard."
On next matchup with Colorado State…
"Colorado State beat Wyoming at Wyoming, that's a good game. I think as they get healthier and they've got a lot of transfers that are playing for the first time, they're going to be better. Our mentality is every team is a number one team and every night is going to be a fight and we have to do whatever it takes to win."
Maddi Utti, Junior, Forward
On joining the 1000 point club…
"It means a lot. I'm really excited, I'm at a loss for words honestly. My teammates were really great and they were trying to get me the ball and everything. It's good."
On her individual goals playing with the Bulldogs…
"Coming in freshman year I didn't know what to expect. I had no expectations really and then freshman year, it really opened my eyes that I could be a big part of this program and I just wanted to continue to do that throughout my time here."
On the team's recent success, the support from the fans, and playing teams giving their best shot at them…
"It's really good having the Red Wave here. It's amazing and it definitely helps us play better when we hear them in the crowd. We're really excited every game and we know that the team we're going to play is going to want to give us their best game. We just have to play our best every game and do what we need to do to win."
Next Up
Fresno State will remain at home next week to host Colorado State on Wednesday. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center and will air locally on KAIL-TV and stream on the Mountain West Network.
"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 call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram: fresnostwbb
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Team Stats
WY
FS
FG%
.344
.471
3FG%
.320
.448
FT%
.818
.800
RB
32
46
TO
10
6
STL
2
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
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