Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: CARY EDMONDSON - FRESNO STATE
'Dogs picked to finish first; Maddi Utti and Haley Cavinder earn preseason accolades
11/19/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the first time since 2013, Fresno State has been picked to finish first in the Mountain West as voted on by the league's head coaches and media, the conference office announced Thursday morning. Senior forward Maddi Utti was also tabbed as the Preseason Player of the Year. She is joined by sophomore guard Haley Cavinder on the five-member All-Mountain West Team.
After a 16-2 mark in MW play last year, Fresno State returns all five starters who helped the Bulldogs claim the 2020 MW regular-season title. Following the Bulldogs in second place is San José State with two first-place votes and a total of 239 points. Boise State is third with a first-place vote and 221 points, while San Diego State was picked fourth with the final first-place vote and 185 points.
Utti, the reigning MW Player of the Year, is just the third athlete during the last decade to return to the league after previously being named POY, a list that also includes Ellen Nystrom (Colorado State) and Courtney Clements (San Diego State). The Bulldog senior averaged 15.4 ppg and 10.0 rpg during the conference season last year en route to becoming Fresno State's second athlete to be named MW Player of the Year, and first to win it outright.
Last year, she was one of five players in the NCAA to average at least 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals per game. Utti led the MW in field goals (212) and steals (73), while finishing her junior campaign third in the league in scoring (15.9). Earlier this week, she was named to the Naismith watch list.
Cavinder led the Bulldogs in scoring in all games last year at 16.0 ppg. She was only one of two players in Mountain West play to rank in the top 10 in scoring (14.7 ppg), rebounding (7.6 rpg) and assists (3.9 apg). On the conference's biggest stage, the-then freshman averaged 20.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 4.3 apg at the 2020 MW Championships to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Cavinder finished the season by breaking Fresno State's freshman records for points (512) and rebounds (233) in a season.
2020-21 MOUNTAIN WEST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Fresno State (22) 266
2. San José State (2) 239
3. Boise State (1) 221
4. San Diego State (1) 185
5. Wyoming 173
6. New Mexico 145
7. Air Force 120
8. Colorado State 117
9. UNLV 111
10. Nevada 95
11. Utah State 44
2020-21 PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM
Pos. Name Yr. Team
C Mallory McGwire Sr. Boise State
G Haley Cavinder So. Fresno State
F Maddi Utti Sr. Fresno State
G Sophia Ramos Jr. San Diego State
G Ayzhiana Basallo Jr. San José State
Preseason Player of the Year
Maddi Utti, Sr., F, Fresno State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
LaTascya Duff, Jr., G, New Mexico
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Asia Avinger, G, San Diego State
2020 Postseason Awards Recap for Utti and Cavinder (conference-only stats)
Maddi Utti – Player of the Year, All-MW, All-Defensive Team
"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
After a 16-2 mark in MW play last year, Fresno State returns all five starters who helped the Bulldogs claim the 2020 MW regular-season title. Following the Bulldogs in second place is San José State with two first-place votes and a total of 239 points. Boise State is third with a first-place vote and 221 points, while San Diego State was picked fourth with the final first-place vote and 185 points.
Utti, the reigning MW Player of the Year, is just the third athlete during the last decade to return to the league after previously being named POY, a list that also includes Ellen Nystrom (Colorado State) and Courtney Clements (San Diego State). The Bulldog senior averaged 15.4 ppg and 10.0 rpg during the conference season last year en route to becoming Fresno State's second athlete to be named MW Player of the Year, and first to win it outright.
Last year, she was one of five players in the NCAA to average at least 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals per game. Utti led the MW in field goals (212) and steals (73), while finishing her junior campaign third in the league in scoring (15.9). Earlier this week, she was named to the Naismith watch list.
Cavinder led the Bulldogs in scoring in all games last year at 16.0 ppg. She was only one of two players in Mountain West play to rank in the top 10 in scoring (14.7 ppg), rebounding (7.6 rpg) and assists (3.9 apg). On the conference's biggest stage, the-then freshman averaged 20.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 4.3 apg at the 2020 MW Championships to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Cavinder finished the season by breaking Fresno State's freshman records for points (512) and rebounds (233) in a season.
2020-21 MOUNTAIN WEST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Fresno State (22) 266
2. San José State (2) 239
3. Boise State (1) 221
4. San Diego State (1) 185
5. Wyoming 173
6. New Mexico 145
7. Air Force 120
8. Colorado State 117
9. UNLV 111
10. Nevada 95
11. Utah State 44
2020-21 PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM
Pos. Name
C Mallory McGwire Sr. Boise State
G Haley Cavinder So. Fresno State
F Maddi Utti Sr. Fresno State
G Sophia Ramos Jr. San Diego State
G Ayzhiana Basallo Jr. San José State
Preseason Player of the Year
Maddi Utti, Sr., F, Fresno State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
LaTascya Duff, Jr., G, New Mexico
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Asia Avinger, G, San Diego State
2020 Postseason Awards Recap for Utti and Cavinder (conference-only stats)
Maddi Utti – Player of the Year, All-MW, All-Defensive Team
- Only player in the league to rank in the top 5 in scoring (4th - 15.4 ppg), rebounding (3rd – 10.0 rpg) and steals (1st - 2.2 spg). Also ranks 5th in field goal percentage (49.8%), 1st in defensive rebounds (7.4) and 5th in offensive rebounds (2.6).
- Ranks second in league games with 8 double-doubles. Only player under 6-foot with more than 5.
- Three of those double-doubles came in three straight games in which the Bulldogs had to overcome fourth-quarter deficits to win.
- Fourth-most 20-point games with 5.
- Third-most double-digit rebounding performances with 7.
- Posted four straight games with at least 15 rebounds from Jan. 4-18. Only player to record more than two such games in a row.
- Scored double digits in 15 of the team's 18 games.
- Only player to be named Mountain West Player of the Week multiple times during the conference season.
- One of two players in the league to rank in the top 10 in scoring (10th – 14.7 ppg), rebounding (8th – 7.6 rpg) and assists (5th – 3.9).
- Ranks sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.40) and fourth in in 3-pointers made per game (2.28).
- At 5-foot-6, is the shortest player to rank in the league's top 20 in rebounding (8th – 7.6 rpg). Ranks fourth in defensive rebounds with 6.7 per game.
- One of six players in the league to have at least 5 double-doubles.
- Third in the league in 20-point games with 6.
- One of six players to post a 30-point game in conference play, scoring 31 points at New Mexico.
- Posted 25 points at Boise State with 20 of those coming in the second half to help the Bulldogs erase a double-digit fourth quarter deficit.
- Scored at least 10 points in a quarter five times with four of those coming in second halves to help Fresno State overcome second-half deficits.
- Has scored double figures in 12 of 17 games.
- One of two freshman to currently rank in any stat category in the conference's bi-weekly statistical conference rankings (8).
"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
Players Mentioned
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