Fresno State Athletics
Friday, December 11
Fresno, CA
5 P.M. PT
Fresno State
90
vs
71
Saint Mary's
Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Second-half Bulldog blitz leads to 90-71 win over Saint Mary's
12/11/2020 9:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FRESNO, Calif. – Behind an offense that was clicking much of the night, and which ramped up in the second half to the tune of 47 points, Fresno State defeated Saint Mary's 90-71 on Friday night at the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs' starting backcourt trio of Aly Gamez and the Cavinder twins totaled 56 of the team's points.
Hanna Cavinder dropped a game-high 21 points, scoring 16 of those on 6-of-7 shooting in the second half as the 'Dogs blitzed the Gaels over the final 20 minutes. She also had a team-high five assists with three of those coming in the second half. Haley Cavinder added 19 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Gamez filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Keely Brown provided a season-high 12 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting.
Led by Brown, Fresno State's bench outscored the Gaels' 22-13.
The Bulldogs needed every bit of the production outside of the starting backcourt as they were without the services of Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, Maddi Utti, who saw her 94-game starting streak come to an end. She had previously played in all 100 games since joining the Bulldogs for the 2017-18 season.
How It Happened
Saint Mary's got out on the front foot early and didn't let up through much of the first half, knocking down seven 3-pointers in the first 17 minutes of the game. The 'Dogs kept paced though, equaling the Gaels by also shooting 50 percent from the field. The 'Dogs seized on opportunity late in the first half, closing with a 6-0 spurt to take their first lead since early in the opening quarter. Fresno State held a slim 43-41 advantage at the half.
That 6-0 run quick quickly turned into 10 unanswered behind a back-to-back floaters by Hanna Cavinder to open the second half. Madeline Holland ended the drought for the Gaels but Kendyll Kinzer then dropped in 3-ball that started a 15-5 stretch over the next four minutes that gave Fresno State a 62-48 lead with 3:44 remaining in the third. The Bulldogs' advantage never dipped below double digits from that point.
The 'Dogs further extended their lead to begin the fourth, starting the final 10 minutes with a 16-4 spurt that saw Brown sink a pair of 3-pointers to give Fresno State its largest lead of the game at 25 (83-58) with 5:10 to play
Fresno State's potent attack shot 58.6 percent in the second half which included going 9-of-14 (64.3 percent) in the fourth. The Bulldogs shot 6-of-8 from behind the arc during the final 20 minutes and scored 17 points off nine Gael turnovers.
Team Notes
Hanna Cavinder – 21 points, 5 assists, 2 steals
Head Coach Jaime White
Opening Statement….
"I thought we had a good start, not overly explosive, but solid. I thought there were a couple runs back-and-forth. I thought Hanna had a nice defensive stop and got them on their heels before halftime. They went on a couple runs and we answered so that made me feel better to be tied or close to tied going into halftime which was good. I thought we shared the ball well, we defended pretty good and picked up the defense, glad to see that. We had 22 points off the bench and that is huge. Obviously, Keely Brown is giving us so much diversity and change of speed at times. It is nice to be able to use different weapons throughout the game."
On the play of junior center Maria Guimaraes…
"I thought Maria matched up with their number 32 [Finau Tonga] really well. She can be a matchup player when we do play teams that have a bigger, thicker kid. She can also be someone we pound it inside to on a smaller post player. It is the position and the size we have needed for a few years."
On quick turnaround to play at San Francisco on Sunday…
"They are a good team. The last time we played them here they were also good. We are going to have our hands full. I think coming off this game gives us some confidence going in without Maddi [Utti] and Brooke [Walling]. I am glad we had this game and did what we needed to do to get that confidence and work some lineups and do some different things. I think they are going to be a tough team, physical and they have one exceptional player that we are going to need to stop."
Senior guard Aly Gamez
On what changed in the second half…
"I think it was important for us to be aggressive. We saw that our pressure really bothered them and we did not really do that until the end of the first half so I think talking about that and making sure that translated to the second half worked well."
On not having Maddi Utti in the lineup…
"It was very strange. She played without me last year, but this is the first time in my four years not playing with her. We knew we had to pick up what she brings to our team."
Freshman guard Keely Brown
On reaching double-figures for the first time in her career…
"It feels good just knowing I am able to come in and contribute to my team with my abilities. I am working on getting better and getting that chemistry with everybody and knowing when to shoot the ball and knowing what I need to do for our team."
On jelling with the team and finding her role…
"Knowing my team has confidence and having a good relationship on and off the court and that is very important. Getting to know each other off the court and then coming on the court knowing how each other plays and the excitement they get from you doing your thing is so fun for me and me being happy for everyone else as well."
"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
Hanna Cavinder dropped a game-high 21 points, scoring 16 of those on 6-of-7 shooting in the second half as the 'Dogs blitzed the Gaels over the final 20 minutes. She also had a team-high five assists with three of those coming in the second half. Haley Cavinder added 19 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Gamez filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Keely Brown provided a season-high 12 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting.
Led by Brown, Fresno State's bench outscored the Gaels' 22-13.
The Bulldogs needed every bit of the production outside of the starting backcourt as they were without the services of Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, Maddi Utti, who saw her 94-game starting streak come to an end. She had previously played in all 100 games since joining the Bulldogs for the 2017-18 season.
How It Happened
Saint Mary's got out on the front foot early and didn't let up through much of the first half, knocking down seven 3-pointers in the first 17 minutes of the game. The 'Dogs kept paced though, equaling the Gaels by also shooting 50 percent from the field. The 'Dogs seized on opportunity late in the first half, closing with a 6-0 spurt to take their first lead since early in the opening quarter. Fresno State held a slim 43-41 advantage at the half.
That 6-0 run quick quickly turned into 10 unanswered behind a back-to-back floaters by Hanna Cavinder to open the second half. Madeline Holland ended the drought for the Gaels but Kendyll Kinzer then dropped in 3-ball that started a 15-5 stretch over the next four minutes that gave Fresno State a 62-48 lead with 3:44 remaining in the third. The Bulldogs' advantage never dipped below double digits from that point.
The 'Dogs further extended their lead to begin the fourth, starting the final 10 minutes with a 16-4 spurt that saw Brown sink a pair of 3-pointers to give Fresno State its largest lead of the game at 25 (83-58) with 5:10 to play
Fresno State's potent attack shot 58.6 percent in the second half which included going 9-of-14 (64.3 percent) in the fourth. The Bulldogs shot 6-of-8 from behind the arc during the final 20 minutes and scored 17 points off nine Gael turnovers.
Team Notes
- The 'Dogs improved to 3-1 on the season when four Bulldogs reach double figures.
- It is the fifth time in the Coach White era that 'Dogs have reached the 90-point mark, and the second this season.
- The Bulldogs won their first game of the season when being outrebounded (44-31).
- The 'Dogs connected on 10 3-pointers, their most in a game this season. They also shot above 50 percent from 3 for the first time this year (52.6%).
- Fresno State moves to 5-2 at home against Saint Mary's.
Hanna Cavinder – 21 points, 5 assists, 2 steals
- Led the team in scoring for the fourth time this season.
- Third 20-point game of the year.
- Led the 'Dogs in assists for the third time this season.
- Has reached double figures in all five games.
- Led the team in rebounding for the fourth time this season.
- Has reached double figures in all five games.
- Totaled a season-high in points and assists.
- First career game with double figures.
- Led the 'Dogs in scoring off the bench for the third time this season.
Head Coach Jaime White
Opening Statement….
"I thought we had a good start, not overly explosive, but solid. I thought there were a couple runs back-and-forth. I thought Hanna had a nice defensive stop and got them on their heels before halftime. They went on a couple runs and we answered so that made me feel better to be tied or close to tied going into halftime which was good. I thought we shared the ball well, we defended pretty good and picked up the defense, glad to see that. We had 22 points off the bench and that is huge. Obviously, Keely Brown is giving us so much diversity and change of speed at times. It is nice to be able to use different weapons throughout the game."
On the play of junior center Maria Guimaraes…
"I thought Maria matched up with their number 32 [Finau Tonga] really well. She can be a matchup player when we do play teams that have a bigger, thicker kid. She can also be someone we pound it inside to on a smaller post player. It is the position and the size we have needed for a few years."
On quick turnaround to play at San Francisco on Sunday…
"They are a good team. The last time we played them here they were also good. We are going to have our hands full. I think coming off this game gives us some confidence going in without Maddi [Utti] and Brooke [Walling]. I am glad we had this game and did what we needed to do to get that confidence and work some lineups and do some different things. I think they are going to be a tough team, physical and they have one exceptional player that we are going to need to stop."
Senior guard Aly Gamez
On what changed in the second half…
"I think it was important for us to be aggressive. We saw that our pressure really bothered them and we did not really do that until the end of the first half so I think talking about that and making sure that translated to the second half worked well."
On not having Maddi Utti in the lineup…
"It was very strange. She played without me last year, but this is the first time in my four years not playing with her. We knew we had to pick up what she brings to our team."
Freshman guard Keely Brown
On reaching double-figures for the first time in her career…
"It feels good just knowing I am able to come in and contribute to my team with my abilities. I am working on getting better and getting that chemistry with everybody and knowing when to shoot the ball and knowing what I need to do for our team."
On jelling with the team and finding her role…
"Knowing my team has confidence and having a good relationship on and off the court and that is very important. Getting to know each other off the court and then coming on the court knowing how each other plays and the excitement they get from you doing your thing is so fun for me and me being happy for everyone else as well."
"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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