First-place 'Dogs host New Mexico Wednesday night

Game 16: Fresno State (11-4, 4-0 MW) vs. New Mexico (9-7, 0-3 MW)
Jan. 8, 2020 • 6 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Stream: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Series History: New Mexico leads 14-11
Last Meeting: Fresno State won 77-70 in Fresno, Calif. on Feb. 16, 2019

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Halftime Show: Mutts in Motion

Bulldog Bones

With an 85-76 overtime win at San Jose State on Saturday, Fresno State moved into sole possession of first place in the Mountain West with a 4-0 record (11-4 overall). The Bulldogs are one of only four teams nationally that have a 4-0 record in their respective league play.
The Bulldogs are tied with Boise State for the most overall wins in the league with 11.
The Bulldogs are 6-1 this season at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State has averaged more than 11 wins per season at home since the opening of the SMC in 2003.
Fresno State is 11-0 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 (77.5 ppg), the defense has been the difference as the 'Dogs have yet to lose when scoring 17 or more points off turnovers (9-0).
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 (17.1) Haley Cavinder (15.7) and junior Maddi Utti (17.3).
With three double-doubles in the last four games, Haley Cavinder is the only freshman, and is one of seven players in the nation to average at least 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
With a three ballhanders in the starting five, the Bulldogs rank No. 6 in the NCAA with only 11.5 turnovers per game.
Their low turnover frequency has moved the Bulldogs to No. 7 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.42 and their guard trio alone has a 2.14.

Scouting New Mexico

New Mexico sits at 9-7 overall and 0-3 in the Mountain West. The Lobos' record in conference is a bit deceiving as UNM has played the three teams, which sit in a tie for second in the league at 3-1.
The Lobos have the 28th-best scoring offense in the nation at 77.7, which has been aided by their shooting from deep. UNM ranks fifth in 3-point attempts (435) and sixth in makes (135).
New Mexico also holds the eighth-best turnover margin at 8.38. The Lobos turn the ball over 13.3 times per game while also producting 10.8 steals.
UNM is led in scoring by Ahlise Hurst at 13.4 points per game. The sophomore ranks fifth in the nation in 3-point attempts (131) and 3-pointers made (51). Jayla Everett (12.5) and Jordan Hosey (10.6), join Hurst in double figures. Hosey also averages a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per game.

Series History with New Mexico

New Mexico holds the all-time series lead, 14-11.
The Lobos had claimed the five straight until the Bulldogs' 77-70 last February on its home court.
The Bulldogs are 8-3 at home against the Lobos, holding a 4-2 record at the Save Mart Center.

Starting conference right
This year marks the fifth time in eight seasons that Fresno State opened Mountain West play 4-0. In each of the previous four seasons the Bulldogs finished in the top four of the league. For of those five have come under head coach Jaime White
- Fresno State has started 5-0 in the MW twice (2015, 2016). The 'Dogs opened MW play with nine straight wins in 2015 and eight in 2016.
The nine straight wins 2015 is the program's longest MW win streak.

Clicking on offense
With an offense that has not averaged in the 70's since 2014, this season's Bulldogs look to far exceed the previous five seasons. Averaging nearly eight points better than last year, Fresno State ranks third in Mountain West and No. 25 in the NCAA in scoring offense at 78.0 points per game
- The Bulldogs' current average is 2.1 points better than the program record set during the 2010-11 season.

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 three double-doubles in the last four games, the last coming with a season-high 15 rebounds in the Bulldogs' overtime win at San Jose State. With no points and four rebounds, Cavinder totaled 12 points and 11 rebounds in the final 25 minutes.
- Cavinder leads the Bulldogs with 7.6 rebounds per game.

A freshman in rare company
With her rapid rise on the glass, Haley Cavinder has put herself among some of the best in the nation. Averaging 15.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.3 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.

Doing it all
A player who has done just about everything asked of her, Maddi Utti put her full arsenal on display on Saturday at San Jose State. Playing every second of the overtime contest, the 5-foot-11 forward scored 18 points, grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds, tied a career-high in assists with six, and hauled in four. Not on the box score was the fact that Utti played in all five positions of the Bulldogs' zone defense.
- Utti has lived up to her preseason all-conference billing through 15 games, ranking in the top eight in the MW in scoring (2nd), rebounding (6th), field-goal percentage (1st), steals (1st), offensive rebounds (6th) and defensive rebounds (7th).
- Utti leads the league and ranks fifth in the NCAA in field goals made (113) and is 17th in steals (43).

The scoring continues
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 and Saturday was no different. With the Bulldogs trailing by 11 at the start of the fourth quarter, Cavinder poured in 14 of her game-high 24 during the final 15 minutes, scoring the game-tying basket with 11 seconds to play, and the go-ahead 3-pointer to start overtime.
- The 24 points was Cavinder's fifth 20-point performance of the season which ranks second to Jalessa Ross (6) among Bulldog freshman all-time.
- Cavinder ranks third in the MW, and third among freshman nationally in scoring at 17.1 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.

First-place 'Dogs host New Mexico Wednesday night

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Players Mentioned

Haley Cavinder

Hanna Cavinder

Maddi Utti

Fresno State Athletics

First-place 'Dogs host New Mexico Wednesday night

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