Fresno State Athletics
Friday, March 19
Fort Worth, TX
12 P.M. PT
Fresno State
vs
Missouri
Photo by: FRESNO STATE BRAND STRATEGY AND
'Dogs square off with Tigers in WNIT opener
3/18/2021 1:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game 27: Fresno State (16-10 MW) vs. Missouri (9-11)
March 19, 2021 • 12 p.m. PT • Forth Worth, Texas
Stream:Â FloHoops ($) | Talent: John Liddle & Kyle Youmans
Radio:Â 940 ESPN Radio (PxP: Jose Gonzalez)
Live Stats:Â https://womensnit.com/sidearmstats/wbball3/summary
Series History:Â First Meeting
Bulldog Bones                                                                                                                                          Â
Following the cancellation of last year's postseason tournaments, Fresno State returns to postseason basketball in 2021 to make its 18th appearance all-time. It will be the program's 14th since 2003.
- The program had a program-long postseason streak of nine from 2008-2016.
- During the last 14 years, Fresno State has qualified for the postseason 13 times, only missing the postseason play in 2017. The Bulldogs earned the Mountain West's automatic qualifying spot to the WNIT in 2020 but the tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- On Friday, the Bulldogs will be making their eighth appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
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Breaking down the WNIT with the NET rankings                                                                      Â
- Fresno State has the 22nd-highest NET ranking among the 32 teams in the WNIT field.
- The 'Dogs landed in the second-strongest Regional in the field with a NET ranking average 74, two points behind the Rockford Regional. Charlotte (80) and Memphis (81) have averages in the 80s.
- The Bulldogs are in the strongest four-team pod which has an average of 70. Only two of the other seven pods feature an average ranking lower than 75.
- Fresno State opens up the tournament with the highest-ranked team in the field in Missouri (39). No team in the field with a NET below 90 has a larger disparity in their opening game than the Bulldogs and Tigers (42).
- The Bulldogs are in one of two pods that has two Power 5 teams.
- Arizona State has the lowest NET for a P5 team at 95, 23 higher than Nebraska's 72.
- The only other pod with two P5 teams is in the Memphis Regional. That pod which has Colorado (52) and Nebraska (72) has an average NET ranking of 83.
- The Fort Worth and Memphis regionals each have four teams which rank in the top 65. Charlotte and Rockford each have two.
"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:Â
Twitter:Â Â @FresnoStateWBBÂ
Instagram:Â Â fresnostwbbÂ
Â
March 19, 2021 • 12 p.m. PT • Forth Worth, Texas
Stream:Â FloHoops ($) | Talent: John Liddle & Kyle Youmans
Radio:Â 940 ESPN Radio (PxP: Jose Gonzalez)
Live Stats:Â https://womensnit.com/sidearmstats/wbball3/summary
Series History:Â First Meeting
Bulldog Bones                                                                                                                                          Â
- Fresno State is taking part in its 12th postseason tournament during the last 14 years (2020 postseason was canceled).
- Friday will mark the Bulldogs ninth appearance in the WNIT, and fourth under head coach Jaime White.
- According to the NET rankings, the 'Dogs are in the strongest four-team pod in the tournament. Their pod has an average ranking of 70.
- Fresno State is coming off playing in its fourth Mountain West championship game in the last six seasons. The Bulldogs fell in the title game 59-56 to Wyoming, their seventh loss to a conference opponent by one possession.
- In last week's MW semifinal, sophomore Haley Cavinder became the fastest player in program history to score 1,000 career points, doing so in 57 games. She was three games quicker to the milestone than Ki-Ki Moore.
- On March 7, the Mountain West honored Haley Cavinder as its Player of the Year, the second consecutive year a Bulldog has earned the award (Maddi Utti - 2020). The Bulldogs have claimed the award three times in their nine years in the league.
- On the All-Mountain West Team, Haley was joined by twin sister Hanna Cavinder. The duo finished the conference season 1-2 in the league in scoring at 19.9 ppg and 17.5 ppg, respectively.
- Maddi Utti earned honorable mention, the third straight year the senior has garnered All-MW or honorable mention.
- One of the two Cavinder twins have led the Bulldogs in scoring in all 25 of 26 games. Half of their wins this season have come when the duo scores at least 38 points.
- Fresno State ranks 16th nationally in scoring offense (77.9 ppg) and is shooting at a 45.2 percent clip which ranks 26th in the NCAA.Â
- Missouri enters the WNIT as the highest-ranked team in the field according to the NET rankings (39).
- The Tigers finished 10th in the SEC with a 5-9 record and were 9-11 overall on the year.
- Averaging 74.8 points per game, Mizzou ranks 35th nationally in scoring offense.
- The Tigers high-scoring offense is built around efficiency as they rank seventh in field goal percentage (48.1%) and fifth in 3-point percentage (39.0%).
- Sophomore guard Aijha Blackwell sits 18th in the SEC in scoring (14.7 ppg) and third in rebounding (11.3 rpg) which is also 18th nationally.
- Redshirt junior forward Ladazhia Williams ranks 12th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (57.7%).
- Fresno State and Missouri will be meeting for the first time.
Following the cancellation of last year's postseason tournaments, Fresno State returns to postseason basketball in 2021 to make its 18th appearance all-time. It will be the program's 14th since 2003.
- The program had a program-long postseason streak of nine from 2008-2016.
- During the last 14 years, Fresno State has qualified for the postseason 13 times, only missing the postseason play in 2017. The Bulldogs earned the Mountain West's automatic qualifying spot to the WNIT in 2020 but the tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- On Friday, the Bulldogs will be making their eighth appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
Â
Breaking down the WNIT with the NET rankings                                                                      Â
- Fresno State has the 22nd-highest NET ranking among the 32 teams in the WNIT field.
- The 'Dogs landed in the second-strongest Regional in the field with a NET ranking average 74, two points behind the Rockford Regional. Charlotte (80) and Memphis (81) have averages in the 80s.
- The Bulldogs are in the strongest four-team pod which has an average of 70. Only two of the other seven pods feature an average ranking lower than 75.
- Fresno State opens up the tournament with the highest-ranked team in the field in Missouri (39). No team in the field with a NET below 90 has a larger disparity in their opening game than the Bulldogs and Tigers (42).
- The Bulldogs are in one of two pods that has two Power 5 teams.
- Arizona State has the lowest NET for a P5 team at 95, 23 higher than Nebraska's 72.
- The only other pod with two P5 teams is in the Memphis Regional. That pod which has Colorado (52) and Nebraska (72) has an average NET ranking of 83.
- The Fort Worth and Memphis regionals each have four teams which rank in the top 65. Charlotte and Rockford each have two.
"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:Â
Twitter:Â Â @FresnoStateWBBÂ
Instagram:Â Â fresnostwbbÂ
Â
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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