Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, February 22
Fresno, CA
2:00 PM PT
Fresno State
23-5 (16-1MW)
69
vs
58
Nevada
14-13 (7-9MW)
1
2
3
4
F
Nevada
11
14
10
23
58
Fresno State
19
17
15
18
69
Photo by: Keith Kountz
'Dogs top Nevada 69-58 on Senior Day
2/22/2020 8:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FRESNO, Calif. – Following its first loss in 59 days, Fresno State responded by nearly leading from start to finish in defeating Nevada 69-58 on Saturday afternoon. Defensively, the Bulldogs held the Wolf Pack to 35.3 percent from the floor.
Maddi Utti led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Starting on Senior Day, Jordanna Porter scored 13 points, knocking down 3-of-5 from 3. Haley Cavinder was also in double figures with 10 points along with grabbing five rebounds and dishing five assists.
How It Happened
Fresno State got its first separation four minutes into the game as Porter knocked down a 3-pointer and Utti had back-to-back layups to give the 'Dogs an early 13-5. The Bulldogs maintained that advantage through the quarter, leading 19-11.
The 'Dogs built on its lead to start the second through a pair of early threes from Porter. Nevada responded with nine unanswered, punctuated by a three from Da'Ja Hamilton that cut the Bulldogs' lead to 29-22. Back-to-back layups from Hanna Cavinder got the 'Dogs back on track. Utti then scored the last five points of the half as Fresno State took a 36-25 lead into the break.
Nevada managed to only cut its deficit nine during the third quarter. With just under three minutes to play in the period, Fresno State hit a 9-2 run to boost its lead to 51-35, with the final five points coming from Utti.
The Bulldogs' advantage rose to their largest of the game 15 seconds into the fourth when Haley Cavinder drained a 3-pointer. Despite the lead, the Wolf Pack continued to chip away. A 9-0 run that saw back-to-back 3-pointers with under three minutes to go to cut the Bulldogs' lead to just seven with a minute to go. Haley then knocked down a shot to end the momentum and keep the game out of reach.
Team Notes
Maddi Utti – 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals
Jaime White, Fresno State Head Coach
On the game against Nevada...
"I thought we started out great. Really fun to have our seniors be able to start, and they did so well. JP (Jordanna Porter) here, hitting a three when we really needed it. Got us a little bit of a lead, and it continued. Happy for that, we felt like we needed to rebound and take care of the ball, we kind of did both. I thought the biggest thing was our defense, holding a team to 58 (points) and I think they normally score 67, that was a big deal. Just kind of grinding it out, not a pretty game, Nevada is a good team. They came back there at the end, but I thought we did a good job."
Coming off the loss to Air Force...
"We had a good practice the same day we got back from Air Force. We had a good, hard practice and everybody came and responded. And that's what good teams do, that's what championship teams do. Even though they're tired, they know what it means, they know we got to get in and get it done."
On the seniors and their Senior Night…
"That's just how it should be. All three have worked really hard and have done everything that everybody else has done. I'm just proud of them. I'm proud that they could take that moment and shine. That's special. I don't think that always happens, so I'm really proud of them and I'm glad our Red Wave was there to see it. So nice of all of our fans to be here tonight, and their families to be here so that they can see and celebrate our seniors and all their hard work. Absolutely no one knows how hard these girls work, and it's just special so I was really happy to see it."
Jordanna Porter, Senior Forward
On her last time playing in the Save Mart Center…
"It was bittersweet. I had a bunch of emotions going through my mind and body, just like the rest of the seniors did, just wanted to come out and contribute and win as a team. It's like what we've been doing all season. So to do that, and get to start with all the seniors in our last game here is kind of emotional, but then again we came to do what we do and got it done."
On how special this team's run has been...
"Very special. Because a target is on your back. The rest of the reason. Regardless if we were 16-1, we still got a target on our back. To really have a target on your back, it gets you hype, you got to really come and bring it. You can't slack off, you can't take days off, you can't breathe. You have to stay not breathing so that you know we got to get this done and we got to do this."
Maddi Utti, Junior Forward
On the seniors' leadership…
"They've been really great through everything. JP came out today and scored 3-of-5 from three, which was really impressive and she was 3-for-3 at first. But Kate (Katelin Noyer) and Lydia (Friberg) have both worked really hard all three years and it showed on the court today that hard work pays off."
Up Next
Fresno State will take Monday off before heading to Wyoming for its final game of the regular season. Tipoff at Arena Auditorium 5:30 p.m. PT.
"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
Maddi Utti led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Starting on Senior Day, Jordanna Porter scored 13 points, knocking down 3-of-5 from 3. Haley Cavinder was also in double figures with 10 points along with grabbing five rebounds and dishing five assists.
How It Happened
Fresno State got its first separation four minutes into the game as Porter knocked down a 3-pointer and Utti had back-to-back layups to give the 'Dogs an early 13-5. The Bulldogs maintained that advantage through the quarter, leading 19-11.
The 'Dogs built on its lead to start the second through a pair of early threes from Porter. Nevada responded with nine unanswered, punctuated by a three from Da'Ja Hamilton that cut the Bulldogs' lead to 29-22. Back-to-back layups from Hanna Cavinder got the 'Dogs back on track. Utti then scored the last five points of the half as Fresno State took a 36-25 lead into the break.
Nevada managed to only cut its deficit nine during the third quarter. With just under three minutes to play in the period, Fresno State hit a 9-2 run to boost its lead to 51-35, with the final five points coming from Utti.
The Bulldogs' advantage rose to their largest of the game 15 seconds into the fourth when Haley Cavinder drained a 3-pointer. Despite the lead, the Wolf Pack continued to chip away. A 9-0 run that saw back-to-back 3-pointers with under three minutes to go to cut the Bulldogs' lead to just seven with a minute to go. Haley then knocked down a shot to end the momentum and keep the game out of reach.
Team Notes
- Jaime White earned her 16th conference win of the season, the most in a single season during her career at Fresno State.
- The Bulldogs' 23rd win of the season ties the most under Jaime White.
- The 'Dogs won just their fourth game of the year when scoring less than 70 points.
- Fresno State more than doubled Nevada in the paint, 38-16.
Maddi Utti – 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals
- Led Fresno State in scoring for the ninth team.
- Had a game-high four steals.
- Just missed her season high in scoring (14).
- Knocked down a season-high three 3-pointers.
Jaime White, Fresno State Head Coach
On the game against Nevada...
"I thought we started out great. Really fun to have our seniors be able to start, and they did so well. JP (Jordanna Porter) here, hitting a three when we really needed it. Got us a little bit of a lead, and it continued. Happy for that, we felt like we needed to rebound and take care of the ball, we kind of did both. I thought the biggest thing was our defense, holding a team to 58 (points) and I think they normally score 67, that was a big deal. Just kind of grinding it out, not a pretty game, Nevada is a good team. They came back there at the end, but I thought we did a good job."
Coming off the loss to Air Force...
"We had a good practice the same day we got back from Air Force. We had a good, hard practice and everybody came and responded. And that's what good teams do, that's what championship teams do. Even though they're tired, they know what it means, they know we got to get in and get it done."
On the seniors and their Senior Night…
"That's just how it should be. All three have worked really hard and have done everything that everybody else has done. I'm just proud of them. I'm proud that they could take that moment and shine. That's special. I don't think that always happens, so I'm really proud of them and I'm glad our Red Wave was there to see it. So nice of all of our fans to be here tonight, and their families to be here so that they can see and celebrate our seniors and all their hard work. Absolutely no one knows how hard these girls work, and it's just special so I was really happy to see it."
Jordanna Porter, Senior Forward
On her last time playing in the Save Mart Center…
"It was bittersweet. I had a bunch of emotions going through my mind and body, just like the rest of the seniors did, just wanted to come out and contribute and win as a team. It's like what we've been doing all season. So to do that, and get to start with all the seniors in our last game here is kind of emotional, but then again we came to do what we do and got it done."
On how special this team's run has been...
"Very special. Because a target is on your back. The rest of the reason. Regardless if we were 16-1, we still got a target on our back. To really have a target on your back, it gets you hype, you got to really come and bring it. You can't slack off, you can't take days off, you can't breathe. You have to stay not breathing so that you know we got to get this done and we got to do this."
Maddi Utti, Junior Forward
On the seniors' leadership…
"They've been really great through everything. JP came out today and scored 3-of-5 from three, which was really impressive and she was 3-for-3 at first. But Kate (Katelin Noyer) and Lydia (Friberg) have both worked really hard all three years and it showed on the court today that hard work pays off."
Up Next
Fresno State will take Monday off before heading to Wyoming for its final game of the regular season. Tipoff at Arena Auditorium 5:30 p.m. PT.
"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
NV
FS
FG%
.353
.464
3FG%
.263
.286
FT%
.833
.722
RB
38
38
TO
17
15
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballWBB head coach Ryan McCarthy Introductory Press Conference [4/21/25]
Monday, April 21
WBB Media Availability [9/23]
Monday, September 23
The Game Changers: Coaches Corner - Jazmine Redmon
Wednesday, February 21
WBB Media Availability [11/2]
Thursday, November 02