Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, January 25
Boise, ID
12:00 PM PT
Fresno State
16-4,9-0Mountain West
85
at
80
Boise State
14-7,6-3Mountain West
1
2
3
4
F
Fresno St.
12
18
20
35
85
Boise St.
19
21
20
20
80
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Fourth-quarter rally propels 'Dogs to 85-80 win at Boise State
1/25/2020 6:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BOISE, Idaho – On Saturday afternoon, for the first time since 2014, Fresno State's women's basketball team walked out of Boise State's blue and orange clad arena with a win. In what has become more of a trend than an anomaly, the Bulldogs once again rallied back from a double-digit fourth-quarter hole to snap the Broncos' 18-game home win streak against the Mountain West opponents, 85-80, at Extramile Arena.
Trailing by as much as 17 late in the second quarter, the Bulldogs (16-4, 9-0 MW) were never discouraged by their slow start, continuously chipping into a Bronco lead that lasted more than 35 minutes. After nine first-half turnovers, Fresno State settled in, committing none in the second half while capitalizing on four fourth-quarter BSU miscues.
For the third time five games, Haley Cavinder exploded in the second half. After starting 1-of-5 in the first 20 minutes, the freshman scored 20 of her game-high 25 points in the second half, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-6 from 3. The point guard also just missed a double-double, finishing with a team-high nine rebounds. Maddi Utti quietly recorded her seventh 20-point game of the season with 21 points to go with six rebounds. Hanna Cavinder also landed in double figures with 14 after going 5-of-10 from the floor.
Led by a Mallory McGwire who posted a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, Boise State (14-7, 6-3 MW) saw five players finish in double figures.
How It Happened
Fresno State got the opening bucket of the game from Utti but Boise State answered with an 11-0 run to force the Bulldogs to call an early timeout. The Broncos connected on 3-of-4 attempts from deep in that stretch, two coming from McGwire. Down 11 with 2:09 on the clock, the Bulldogs cut their deficit to seven by the end of the period.
The Bronco extended their lead though out of the break with a 3-pointer from Braydey Hodgins. Riley Lupfer later added another that extend saw the Bulldogs deficit balloon 16 through a 7-0 run. Following a pair of free throws from Genna Ogier, McGwire sank her third triple of the half to give Boise State its largest lead of the game at 34-17 with 4:35 remaining in the half. Despite the deficit Fresno State found its footing late in the quarter, pushing the pace and putting the Broncos under pressure. Eight points in less than a minute brought the 'Dogs back to within 10, 40-30, at the end of the half.
The Broncos started forcing the ball inside early and often to start the quarter with their first six points coming from A'shanti Coleman. BSU's play in the paint helped offset the play of the Cavinder twins who came out scoring the Bulldogs' first seven points. As the home team took a 12-point lead four minutes into the quarter, the twins proceeded to score another eight points during an 11-5 stretch for the 'Dogs that also saw a 3-pointer from Utti of an offensive rebound from Aly Gamez that pulled the 'Dogs to within six with 3:13 on the clock. Boise State finished the period with four unanswered to once again extend its advantage back to 10, 50-40.
Like they've already done twice this month, one being at second-place San Jose State, the double-digit deficit didn't faze the Bulldogs. Kendyll Kinzer first cut it to seven with 7:40 on the clock. Ninety seconds later, a free throw from Gamez started a 6-0 spurt that saw the Bulldogs' deficit dwindle to one, 66-65. With 3:45 remaining, Lupfer sank a triple to extend the Broncos lead to four, but it was short-lived as Haley banked in a trey from the wing. The freshman point guard continued to attack, hitting two at the line and followed with another 3-pointer during her own 8-0 run that gave the 'Dogs a 75-71 lead with 2:32 remaining.
Boise State scored the next four to level the game at 75-75, but like she's done in recent weeks, Kinzer stepped up in another big moment. Returning to Idaho, the Lewiston native dropped in 3 from the top off a pass from Haley that had her wide open. The Broncos twice got the deficit back to one but three free throws each from Utti and Hanna down the stretch sealed the win. Fresno State closed the game shooting 10-of-15 from the field (66.7%) and 4-of-8 from 3 (50%) during the final 10 minutes.
Team Notes
Haley Cavinder – 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Maddi Utti – 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Fresno State returns home to face Air Force on Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. The game will broadcast locally on KAIL-TV My Central Valley and stream live 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
Trailing by as much as 17 late in the second quarter, the Bulldogs (16-4, 9-0 MW) were never discouraged by their slow start, continuously chipping into a Bronco lead that lasted more than 35 minutes. After nine first-half turnovers, Fresno State settled in, committing none in the second half while capitalizing on four fourth-quarter BSU miscues.
For the third time five games, Haley Cavinder exploded in the second half. After starting 1-of-5 in the first 20 minutes, the freshman scored 20 of her game-high 25 points in the second half, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-6 from 3. The point guard also just missed a double-double, finishing with a team-high nine rebounds. Maddi Utti quietly recorded her seventh 20-point game of the season with 21 points to go with six rebounds. Hanna Cavinder also landed in double figures with 14 after going 5-of-10 from the floor.
Led by a Mallory McGwire who posted a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, Boise State (14-7, 6-3 MW) saw five players finish in double figures.
How It Happened
Fresno State got the opening bucket of the game from Utti but Boise State answered with an 11-0 run to force the Bulldogs to call an early timeout. The Broncos connected on 3-of-4 attempts from deep in that stretch, two coming from McGwire. Down 11 with 2:09 on the clock, the Bulldogs cut their deficit to seven by the end of the period.
The Bronco extended their lead though out of the break with a 3-pointer from Braydey Hodgins. Riley Lupfer later added another that extend saw the Bulldogs deficit balloon 16 through a 7-0 run. Following a pair of free throws from Genna Ogier, McGwire sank her third triple of the half to give Boise State its largest lead of the game at 34-17 with 4:35 remaining in the half. Despite the deficit Fresno State found its footing late in the quarter, pushing the pace and putting the Broncos under pressure. Eight points in less than a minute brought the 'Dogs back to within 10, 40-30, at the end of the half.
The Broncos started forcing the ball inside early and often to start the quarter with their first six points coming from A'shanti Coleman. BSU's play in the paint helped offset the play of the Cavinder twins who came out scoring the Bulldogs' first seven points. As the home team took a 12-point lead four minutes into the quarter, the twins proceeded to score another eight points during an 11-5 stretch for the 'Dogs that also saw a 3-pointer from Utti of an offensive rebound from Aly Gamez that pulled the 'Dogs to within six with 3:13 on the clock. Boise State finished the period with four unanswered to once again extend its advantage back to 10, 50-40.
Like they've already done twice this month, one being at second-place San Jose State, the double-digit deficit didn't faze the Bulldogs. Kendyll Kinzer first cut it to seven with 7:40 on the clock. Ninety seconds later, a free throw from Gamez started a 6-0 spurt that saw the Bulldogs' deficit dwindle to one, 66-65. With 3:45 remaining, Lupfer sank a triple to extend the Broncos lead to four, but it was short-lived as Haley banked in a trey from the wing. The freshman point guard continued to attack, hitting two at the line and followed with another 3-pointer during her own 8-0 run that gave the 'Dogs a 75-71 lead with 2:32 remaining.
Boise State scored the next four to level the game at 75-75, but like she's done in recent weeks, Kinzer stepped up in another big moment. Returning to Idaho, the Lewiston native dropped in 3 from the top off a pass from Haley that had her wide open. The Broncos twice got the deficit back to one but three free throws each from Utti and Hanna down the stretch sealed the win. Fresno State closed the game shooting 10-of-15 from the field (66.7%) and 4-of-8 from 3 (50%) during the final 10 minutes.
Team Notes
- Fresno State extended its win streak to start the Mountain West season to nine, tying its longest streak that was set in 2015 during head coach Jaime White's first season with the Bulldogs.
- The Bulldogs ended their seven-game losing streak to Boise State, a stretch that started Jan. 14, 2017.
- The win was Fresno State's first in Boise, Idaho since Feb. 26, 2014.
- The 'Dogs snapped Boise State's 18-game home win streak against Mountain West opponents, a stretch that saw their last loss at home against an MW foe come on Jan. 20, 2018.
- Fresno State recorded its third win this month when trailing by double digits at the start of the fourth quarter.
- With nine turnovers in the first half, 2.4 below its per game average, Fresno State did not turn it over once during the second half while forcing Boise State into four during the fourth quarter. The 'Dogs had an 8-0 advantage in points off turnovers in the period.
Haley Cavinder – 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
- Seventh 20-point game of the season, which passes the Bulldogs' freshman record of 20-point games in a season which was set by Jalessa Ross in 2008.
- Scored 20 points in the second half, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter.
- Scored 10 or more points in a quarter for the fifth time.
- Scored or assisted on 12 of the Bulldogs final 18 points of the game.
Maddi Utti – 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
- Seventh 20-point game of the season.
Fresno State returns home to face Air Force on Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. The game will broadcast locally on KAIL-TV My Central Valley and stream live 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
Fresno
Boise
FG%
.433
.412
3FG%
.333
.409
FT%
.769
.833
RB
39
41
TO
9
14
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
7
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballF
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