Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: CARY EDMONDSON - FRESNO STATE
Bulldogs grab program-high nine postseason conference honors
3/1/2020 11:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Behind one of the best conference seasons in program history that resulted in Fresno State's first Mountain West regular season championship, the Bulldogs earned nine postseason league honors, their most ever in a single season. The 'Dogs claimed three individual awards while three were placed on multiple postseason teams.
For only the second time in league history, and for the second straight season, the conference saw one team claim both the Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards.
Averaging a double-double during the conference season (15.4 ppg/10.0 rpg), Maddi Utti became the program's second player to win MW Player of the Year, and first to win it outright. The junior is the sixth player at Fresno State to be named a conference player of the year. She also earned a spot on the All-MW team after being honorable mention a season ago, and was selected to the All-Defensive team for a second consecutive season.
After being selected as the MW Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year, Haley Cavinder lived up to the billing and claimed the postseason Freshman of Year award outright. She joins Taryn Wicijowski (Utah, 2009-10) as the only players in conference history to be named the preseason and postseason Freshman of the Year after the award was first recognized for the first time in 2007-08. She is the third Bulldog to be named a conference's Freshman of the Year. Recognized as one of the conference's top players, she was named both All-MW and to the All-Freshman Team.
Joining her twin sister on the All-MW team and All-Freshmen Team is Hanna Cavinder. With the twins' inclusion on the All-Mountain West team, they became the first freshmen to earn the distinction since Ellen Nystrom (Colorado State) in 2014. While multiple freshmen have made All-MW teams in four previous seasons, the league has never seen two in the top 10 of its voting (the conference had three All-MW teams from 2000-01 to 2012-13). They are also the first two freshmen from the same school to earn All-MW honors in the same season.
Since the Mountain West moved to one 10-member All-MW team in 2014-15, the Bulldogs are the second team to have three players honored, joining Colorado State in 2016. Throughout the season, the All-MW trio has paced the Bulldogs' high-powered offense. Fresno State is one of only two teams in the country, along with Oregon, to have three players who average at least 15 points per game. In 18 conference games, all three have amassed more than 260 points ( 277 - Utti, 277 - Hanna, 265 - Haley).
Leading Fresno State to its first Mountain West regular season championship, Jaime White was named MW Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs' 16 conference wins are tied for the most in league play in program history. Sitting at 15-0 in the MW on Feb. 12, Fresno State was the first Division I women's basketball team this season to clinch its conference title.
Maddi Utti – Player of the Year, All-MW, All-Defensive Team
Maddi Utti, Fresno State
Ayzhiana Basallo, San Jose State
Rodjanae Wade, UNLV
Riley Lupfer, Boise State
Tereza Vitulova, Wyoming
Haley Cavinder, Fresno State
Jayde Christopher, Boise State
Sophia Ramos, San Diego State
Kaelin Immel, Air Force
Hanna Cavinder, Fresno State
Honorable Mention
Tyra Whitehead, San Jose State
Essence Booker, Nevada
Taylor Kalmer, San Diego State
All-Defensive Team
Jayde Christopher, Boise State
Maddi Utti, Fresno State
LaTecia Smith, UNLV
Andrea Brady, Colorado State
Bailey Thomas, UNLV
All-Freshman Team
Hanna Cavinder, Fresno State
Haley Cavinder, Fresno State
Jaeden Vifanua, Wyoming
Dom Phillips, Nevada
Isis Beh, UNLV
Player of the Year: Maddi Utti, Fresno State
Defensive Player of the Year: Bailey Thomas, UNLV
Newcomer of the Year: Ayzhiana Basallo, SJSU
Freshman of the Year: Haley Cavinder, Fresno State
Sixth Person of the Year: Marlene Aniambossou, Utah State
Coach of the Year: Jaime White, Fresno State
"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
For only the second time in league history, and for the second straight season, the conference saw one team claim both the Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards.
Averaging a double-double during the conference season (15.4 ppg/10.0 rpg), Maddi Utti became the program's second player to win MW Player of the Year, and first to win it outright. The junior is the sixth player at Fresno State to be named a conference player of the year. She also earned a spot on the All-MW team after being honorable mention a season ago, and was selected to the All-Defensive team for a second consecutive season.
After being selected as the MW Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year, Haley Cavinder lived up to the billing and claimed the postseason Freshman of Year award outright. She joins Taryn Wicijowski (Utah, 2009-10) as the only players in conference history to be named the preseason and postseason Freshman of the Year after the award was first recognized for the first time in 2007-08. She is the third Bulldog to be named a conference's Freshman of the Year. Recognized as one of the conference's top players, she was named both All-MW and to the All-Freshman Team.
Joining her twin sister on the All-MW team and All-Freshmen Team is Hanna Cavinder. With the twins' inclusion on the All-Mountain West team, they became the first freshmen to earn the distinction since Ellen Nystrom (Colorado State) in 2014. While multiple freshmen have made All-MW teams in four previous seasons, the league has never seen two in the top 10 of its voting (the conference had three All-MW teams from 2000-01 to 2012-13). They are also the first two freshmen from the same school to earn All-MW honors in the same season.
Since the Mountain West moved to one 10-member All-MW team in 2014-15, the Bulldogs are the second team to have three players honored, joining Colorado State in 2016. Throughout the season, the All-MW trio has paced the Bulldogs' high-powered offense. Fresno State is one of only two teams in the country, along with Oregon, to have three players who average at least 15 points per game. In 18 conference games, all three have amassed more than 260 points ( 277 - Utti, 277 - Hanna, 265 - Haley).
Leading Fresno State to its first Mountain West regular season championship, Jaime White was named MW Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs' 16 conference wins are tied for the most in league play in program history. Sitting at 15-0 in the MW on Feb. 12, Fresno State was the first Division I women's basketball team this season to clinch its conference title.
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).
- Only player to rank in the top 7 in scoring (4th – 15.4 ppg), assists (7th – 3.7 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (7 – 1.40).
- Ranks fourth in free-throw percentage (80.3%).
- One of 10 players to have at least 5 20-point games.
- Led the Bulldogs and scored at least 20 points in two wins against San Jose State (20, 24).
- Scored double figures in 15 of 18 games.
- Opened the conference season with her top two highest assist totals of the season with 9 and 7.
- One of two freshman to currently rank in any stat category in the conference's bi-weekly statistical conference rankings (6).
- Named Mountain West Player of the Week twice, once during conference play.
Maddi Utti, Fresno State
Ayzhiana Basallo, San Jose State
Rodjanae Wade, UNLV
Riley Lupfer, Boise State
Tereza Vitulova, Wyoming
Haley Cavinder, Fresno State
Jayde Christopher, Boise State
Sophia Ramos, San Diego State
Kaelin Immel, Air Force
Hanna Cavinder, Fresno State
Honorable Mention
Tyra Whitehead, San Jose State
Essence Booker, Nevada
Taylor Kalmer, San Diego State
All-Defensive Team
Jayde Christopher, Boise State
Maddi Utti, Fresno State
LaTecia Smith, UNLV
Andrea Brady, Colorado State
Bailey Thomas, UNLV
All-Freshman Team
Hanna Cavinder, Fresno State
Haley Cavinder, Fresno State
Jaeden Vifanua, Wyoming
Dom Phillips, Nevada
Isis Beh, UNLV
Player of the Year: Maddi Utti, Fresno State
Defensive Player of the Year: Bailey Thomas, UNLV
Newcomer of the Year: Ayzhiana Basallo, SJSU
Freshman of the Year: Haley Cavinder, Fresno State
Sixth Person of the Year: Marlene Aniambossou, Utah State
Coach of the Year: Jaime White, Fresno State
"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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