'Dogs and Gaels meet for first time in Fresno since 2014

Game 5: Fresno State (2-2) vs. St. Mary's (0-3)
December 11, 2020 • 5 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Video/Local TV: Mountain West Network (PxP: Eric Bentley, Analyst: Matt Norville); MyTV53 (OTA)
Radio: 940 ESPN Radio (PxP: Jose Gonzalez)
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Series History: St. Mary's leads 8-7
Last Meeting: St. Mary's won 83-81 in overtime on Nov. 27, 2015 in Moraga, Calif.

Bulldog Bones

Fresno State sits at 2-2 after splitting its first two opening weeks of competition.
The Bulldogs are averaging 80.5 points per game.
Fresno State currently ranks 31st in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio (1.31) and 19th nationally in turnovers per game (11.2).
Like they did a year ago, the trio of Haley Cavinder, Hanna Cavinder and Maddi Utti were 1, 2, 3 in the scoring column for the Bulldogs during the opening two games of the season, accounting for 54.6 points per game.
Leading the 'Dogs in scoring in three of the team's first four games, Hanna Cavinder paces the MW at 21.0 points per game (48th in NCAA).
In last Friday's win over Colorado State Haley Cavinder and Aly Gamez played bigger than their tatures as both guards posted double-doubles with points and rebounds. It was only the third time in the last 10 years that two Bulldog guards have recorded double-doubles in the same game.
Haley Cavinder earned the Bulldogs' first Mountain West Player of the Week honor of the season after averaging 21.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game during the Bulldogs' conference opening series last week. It was the first of her career.

Scouting St. Mary's

Looks can be deceiving and that's true for St. Mary's who sits at 0-3 on the year. All three of the Gaels' losses have been by less than 10 points and came against quality competition (VCU, Stephen F. Austin, Arizona State) at the Global Sports Tip-Off held in Phoenix, Ariz.
While they have attempted only 17.3 3-pointers through their first three games, the Gaels have knocked them down at a 40.4 percent clip which ranks 29th in the NCAA.
Madeline Holland leads the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game.
Six Gaels average between 7.0 and 14.0 points per game.
Led by Brianna Simonich's 10.0 rebounds per contest, which ranks 58th nationally and third in the West Coast Conference, St. Mary's is pulling in 42.3 boards per game which is second in the WCC. The 5-foot-10 guard also paces the Gaels' offense with 3.7 assists per outing.

History With St. Mary's

Despite only 150 miles separating Fresno and Moraga, the two programs have met only 15 teams. Ten of those matchups have occurred since 2000.
The Gaels narrowly own the edge in the all-time series, 8-7.
Since 2010, the teams have played four times, splitting the games 2-2.
Fresno State dropped the last two contests which were both held in Moraga, the last being 83-81 in overtime on Nov. 27, 2015.
The Bulldogs claimed the last game played in Fresno, winning 60-54 on Dec. 12, 2014.

Splitting a pair
Not knowing what it would be like to play conference series in the new format, Fresno State and Colorado State were the guinea pigs, doing so in back-to-back days on Dec. 3 and 4. The two split the series with the Rams winning the opener 89-83 and the Bulldogs taking Game 2, 78-74. The two games mirrored one another, first with the Bulldogs leading for much of the first game before allowing a 12-0 run to flip the game in the fourth. CSU then led for much of the second game before a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter by the 'Dogs turned that game in their favor.

Doubling up
In last Friday's win over Colorado State Haley Cavinder and Aly Gamez played bigger than their 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-5 statures as both posted double-doubles with points and rebounds. Cavinder had 19 points and 13 rebounds while Gamez had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Gamez earned here 10th rebound on the last defensive rebound of the game and her ninth and 10th points iced the game at the free throw line.
- It was only the third time in the last 10 years that two Bulldog guards have recorded double-doubles in the same game.
- Gamez and Candice White in 2018 were the only other Fresno state guard duo to do it under Jaime White.

First Player of the Week
On Dec. 7, Haley Cavinder earned Fresno State's first Mountain West Player of the Week honor after averaging 21.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game during the Bulldogs' conference opening series last week. Cavinder also posted season highs of 24 points in Game 1 and 13 rebounds in Game 2.
- Despite being named the 2019-20 MW Freshman of the Year, Cavinder did not claim a weekly honor.
- Fresno State won five of the conference's weekly honors last year with Hanna Cavinder and Maddi Utti twice and Aly Gamez once.

Attack mode engaged
One of six returning All-Mountain West players from a season ago, Hanna Cavinder was the odd one out on this year's five-member preseason team and she has been in attack mode since the start of the season to prove that it was a mistake. The sophomore leads the MW in scoring at 21.0 points per game (48th in NCAA).
- Cavinder has led the team in scoring in three of its four games.
- Cavinder's 84 points ranks 30th nationally.
- Cavinder ranks fourth in the MW in shooting percentage at 55.9 percent (33-of-59), while also shooting 40.0 percent from 3 (6-of-15).
- During the second game of the season, the sophomore outscored Lamar in the first half, scoring 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting while the Cardinals were 8-of-31 for 18 points.

Finding focus
A year after shooting just 68.1 percent from the free throw line, Haley Cavinder has not only been getting to the line at higher rate but the sophomore also has increased her percentage by nearly 20 percent, shooting 87.5 percent.
- Cavinder ranks 15th nationally in free throws made free throws with 21.
- Cavinder has taken 24 attempts this season, 6.0 attempts per game compared to 2.25 attempts per game last year.

It's about heart
She might stand at only 5-foot-6 but Haley Cavinder's heart is larger than her frame and that desire and toughness has translated into her ability pull in one rebound after another. The sophomore guard is currently leading the Bulldogs with 9.2 per game. Of those 9.2, 8.2 have come at the defensive end which ranks 21st nationally.
- Cavinder is one of six players in the country under 5-foot-10 who average at least nine rebounds per game. The Bulldog is the shortest of the group by three inches.

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'Dogs and Gaels meet for first time in Fresno since 2014

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Players Mentioned

Haley Cavinder

Hanna Cavinder

Aly Gamez

Maddi Utti

Candice White

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs and Gaels meet for first time in Fresno since 2014

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Players Mentioned

Haley Cavinder

Hanna Cavinder

Aly Gamez

Maddi Utti

Candice White

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