Bulldog defense decides 83-80 overtime win at Wyoming

Monday, January 4

Laramie, WY

5:30 P.M. PT

Fresno State

4-4,2-2Mountain West

Wyoming

4-3,2-2Mountain West

OT 1

Fresno St.

Wyoming

Bulldog defense decides 83-80 overtime win at Wyoming

1/4/2021 10:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Trailing by two with just over two minutes to play in overtime, Fresno State's defense came up in the clutch with two blocks and a steal that led to six unanswered points as the Bulldogs earned a split with Wyoming behind an 83-80 overtime win on Monday night at Arena-Auditorium.

Fresno State's trio of Haley Cavinder (24), Hanna Cavinder (18) and Maddi Utti (23) combined to score 65 points. Sophomore Brooke Walling chipped in a career-high 13 points. Utti led the 'Dogs on the glass with 10 rebounds to earn her first double-double of the season.

The Bulldogs used a 42-22 advantage in the paint to combat 15 made 3's by the Cowgirls as both teams combined to shoot a blistering 23-of-45 from beyond the 3-point line (51.1 percent).

Key Stat
Fresno State outscored Wyoming 21-2 on the fast break. The 19-point difference was the highest of the season. Nineteen of those points came during the final 25 minutes including four on back-to-back possessions in the final minute that gave the 'Dogs a four-point lead.

How It Happened
After starting 2-of-10 during the opening nine minutes of the game, Fresno State trailed 20-9 after one following back-to-back buckets to close the quarter. That momentum to end the first carried into the second with 3-pointers from Haley Cavinder and Utti which quickly cut the deficit to five. After Wyoming pushed its lead back to eight with a 3 from Quinn Weideman, Brooke Walling scored seven unanswered points, the final three on an and-1, to bring the 'Dogs within one at 26-25 with under six minutes remaining in the half.

Fresno State took its first lead of the game with three minutes left in the first half. A 3-pointer from Aly Gamez was followed by a rebound from Hanna Cavinder that she quickly took the length of court for a layup to put the 'Dogs up 32-31.

After 3-pointer from Haley Cavinder that tied the game at 39-39, the Bulldogs gave up a quick 7-0 run early in the third. Utti got the 'Dogs back within striking distance late in the third with back-to-back 3's. Four points from Haley Cavinder to close the period gave Fresno State a 56-55 advantage.

Neither team managed to hold a lead of more than four points through the fourth quarter. With the Bulldogs clinging to a one-point lead with 16 seconds on the clock, Wyoming's Dagny Davidsdottir stepped to the line for a pair. Missing the second and leaving the score tied at 72-72, Fresno State had one last chance to win the game in regulation. Haley Cavinder's attempt at the horn was just off the mark, sending the game to overtime.

Both sides showed signs of fatigue during the early minutes. With the game tied at 74-74 with a minute to go, Fresno State turned to its defense. A blocked 3-point attempt by Walling led to Gamez finding her center in transition for a layup. On the ensuing possession, Utti swiped at a pass at the top of the key, ran down the loose ball and raced to the other end for an open layup that gave Fresno State a four-point cushion with 28 seconds left on the clock. The senior knocked down four straight from the charity stripe during the final eight seconds to seal the game.

Team Notes

Fresno State shot a season-high 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from 3.
The Bulldogs shot 50 percent (32-of-61) from the field for the third time this season.
Fresno State recorded its highest points in the paint differential of the season at 20 (42-22).
The win was Fresno State's fourth win ever in Laramie. All four have come under Jaime White.
The 'Dogs outscored Wyoming 68-54 in regulation after the first nine minutes of the game.
The trio of Haley Cavinder, Hanna Cavinder and Maddi Utti led the Bulldogs in scoring for the fifth time in their six games together this year.

Player Notes
Haley Cavinder – 24 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Third straight game with at least 20 points.
Scored 19 of her points during the final 25 minutes of the game.

Maddi Utti – 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

First double-double of the season.
Scored a season-high 23 points.
Knocked down a career-best five 3-pointers on five attempts.
Grabbed double-digit rebounds for the second consecutive game.

Hanna Cavinder – 18 points, 4 steals, 2 assists

Scored 16 points during the final 25 minutes of the game.
Swiped a season-high four steals.

Brooke Walling – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks

Scored a career-high 13 points.
Recorded a season-high six rebounds.
Had a season-high four blocks.

Up Next
Fresno State returns to the court on Friday against San Jose State. The two-game series will take place in Phoenix, Ariz.

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