'Dogs open season in Utah

Thursday, November 11

Orem, UT

6 P.M. PT

Fresno State

Utah Valley

November 5, 2021, Fresno California; Women's Basketball vs Fresno Pacific University (Exhibition)

Photo by: Keith Kountz

'Dogs open season in Utah

11/10/2021 5:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

FS WBB Notes - Game 1-2

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

Game 1: Fresno State at Utah Valley
Nov. 11, 2021 • 6 p.m. PT • Orem, Utah (UCCU Center)
TV/WEB: ESPN+
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network/KRDU 1130AM (Matt Norville)
LIVE STATS: BullodgsLive.com
SERIES HISTORY: Tied at 1-1
LAST MEETING: Utah Valley 74, Fresno State 64 [11/26/06 – Orem, Utah]

Game 2: Fresno State at BYU
Nov. 13, 2021 • 3 p.m. PT • Provo, Utah (Marriott Center)
TV/WEB: BYUtv
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network/KALZ 96.7FM (Matt Norville)
LIVE STATS: BullodgsLive.com
SERIES HISTORY: BYU leads 8-6
LAST MEETING: BYU 71, Fresno State 65 [11/21/21 – Provo, Utah]

THE BREAKDOWN

Fresno State enters the 2021-22 season as the preseason favorite in the Mountain West for the second straight year, returning three of its five starters from a season ago, including the top two returning scorers in the Mountain West from the 2020-21 season in Haley Cavinder and Hanna Cavinder.
The 2021 MW Player of the Year, Haley was tabbed to repeat in 2022.
The Bulldogs open up away from home for the fourth straight season and fifth time overall in Jaime White's eight seasons.

EARLY SEASON TESTS

With a 57-47 record in the nonconference since joining the Mountain West, Fresno State will play seven of its 11 nonconference games away from home in 2021.

The Bulldogs will play at least one Power 5 opponent (Cal), with the possibility of a second (Nebraska) along with four West Coast Conference opponents (BYU, San Diego, Saint Mary's, Portland).

The four WCC teams were picked 1-3-5-7 in their preseason poll.

LOOKING BACK

Fresno State enters 2021 coming off an appearance in the 32-field WNIT. All eight 'Dogs who contributed to the team's 78-75 win over Missouri return this season.

The Tigers were the highest RPI team in the field.
It was Jaime White's first win over a SEC opponent.
Fresno State will be looking to make its sixth postseason appearance under Jaime White (no postseason tournaments in 2020).

CREAM OF THE CROP

On Oct. 13, reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Haley Cavinder was tabbed as the preseason favorite to repeat at MW Player of the Year. Last season, the point guard became the first sophomore to win the MW's top honor since 2004, joining Kim Smith (Utah) and Linda Frolich (UNLV) as the only sophomores to accomplish the feat.

Cavinder became the first player in league history to win Player of the Year the year after being named Freshman of the Year.
Last season, Haley claimed three of Fresno State claimed a league-high five Player of the Week honors.

TWIN TERRORS

A problem in Year 1 for opponents, the Cavinder twins followed that up by going 1-3 in the Mountain West in scoring, averaging a combined 36.8 points per game in Year 2.

Haley Cavinder and Hanna Cavinder are two of eight returning All-Mountain West players from a season ago.

ALMOST 1,000-POINT SISTERS

With 21 more points, Hanna Cavinder will join sister Haley in Fresno State's 1,000-point club.

Haley was the 27th Bulldog to join the illustrious club, doing so against New Mexico March 9, 2021.

NEW FACES

Fresno State welcomed six new faces to the program during the offseason, bring in transfers Amiee Book and Imani Lacy, along with freshmen Sydney Dethman, Jessica Peterson, Tamia Stricklin and Angela Whitfield.

SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY

Utah Valley opened the season on Tuesday, defeating Park University (AZ) 90-47.
The Wolverines shot 50 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from 3.
Point guard Maria Carvalho led UVU with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Four Wolverines were in double figures.
Josie Williams had 15 points and 13 rebounds to provide a strong inside presence for Utah Valley which scored 44 of their 90 points in the paint.
The Wolverines finished the 2020-21 season with a 13-7 record, 10-4 in the Western Athletic Conference.
Williams (14.2 ppg/8.1 rpg) and Carvalho (12.9 ppg/3.3 apg) were their top scoring threats.
Utah Valley reached its first NCAA Tournament a season ago. UVU earned its spot after finishing second in the regular season behind Cal Baptist which was unable to go due to its transition to Division I.

SCOUTING BYU

BYU entered the season as the preseason favorite in the West Coast Conference.
The Cougars were an at-large selection in 2021, missing out an automatic bid after falling on a buzzer beater in the WCC championship game to Gonzaga.
The Cougars return the bulk of its production from a team that reached the second round where they lost a tight 52-46 game to eventual NCAA runner-up Arizona.
The front court is led by honorable mention All-American Lauren Gustin who averaged 11.3 ppg and 12.6 rebounds.
The backcourt pairing of Shaylee Gonzales (17.8 ppg) and Paisley Harding (14.1 ppg) combined for 31.9 points per game. Both shot north of 40 percent from the field and 31 percent from 3. The two were also 1-2 on the team in assists, dishing out a combined 6.7 per game.
BYU opened its season on Tuesday with an 81-58 defeat of Lipscomb at the Marriott Center.

"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 visit bulldogfoundation.org.

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