'Dogs face UNM and CSU in three days

Game 17: Fresno State (7-9, 3-2 MW) at New Mexico (15-4, 6-0 MW)
Jan. 22, 2022 • 1 p.m. PT • Albuquerque, N.M. (The Pit)
TV/WEB: Mountain West Network
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network/KRDU 1130AM (Matt Norville)
LIVE STATS: BullodgsLive.com
SERIES HISTORY: Tied at 15-15
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 77, New Mexico 72 [3/9/21 – Las Vegas, Nev.]

Game 18: Fresno State (7-9, 3-2 MW) vs. Colorado State (12-4, 3-3 MW)
Jan. 24, 2022 • 6 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
TV/WEB: Mountain West Network
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network/KRDU 1130AM (Matt Norville)
LIVE STATS: BullodgsLive.com
SERIES HISTORY: Colorado State leads 14-16
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 78, Air Force 74 [12/4/20 – Fresno, Calif.]

THE BREAKDOWN

Fresno State is coming off its first loss since the Mountain West opener, falling at Air Force on Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs will head to New Mexico on Saturday to face the Lobos for the first time since the 2021 Mountain West semifinal, a 77-72 win for the 'Dogs against the top-seeded Lobos.
Two days later, the Bulldogs return home to host Colorado State in a game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 6. It will be the third straight game, and fifth in the last six meetings between the two, to be played in Fresno.
All seven of Fresno State's wins have come when scoring 70 points. The 'Dogs are 7-2 when hitting that mark.

BACK-TO-BACK ON THE ROAD
Following its 66-57 defeat on Wednesday at Air Force, Fresno State dropped the front-end of consecutive conference road games dating back to January of 2018. That was the last time the Bulldogs lost back-to-back road contests that came in consecutive games.

Fresno State is 6-1 during the last four seasons when a road game followed a loss on the road.

LIMITING MISCUES
Despite a tough night on Wednesday, doubling their season average, the Bulldogs remain in the nation's Top 10 in turnovers per game committing 11.9 per contest. The 'Dogs finished each of the last two seasons ranked inside the Top 20.

Prior to the 2019-20 season, Fresno State had not finished the season inside the Top 60 and had finished outside the Top 100 three times since the start of the 2014-15 season.

SIZZLING FROM 3
Following a string of poor shooting games from 3 to end the month of November, the Bulldogs began to heat back up in December, and that has continued into the New Year. Since the start of December the 'Dogs have shot over 38 percent in seven games, including shooting north of 40 percent in five.

The Bulldogs hit 79 3-pointers since the start of December, connecting at a 38.3 percent clip (79-of-206).
The hot shooting has 'Dogs up to 17th in the NCAA in 3-point percentage (.368). While they sit third in the Mountain West with 121 made 3-pointers, the 'Dogs have attempted the eighth-most in the league (329).
Fresno State finished the 2020-21 season ranked 26th in the NCAA in 3-point percentage (.363).

CAREER STAT STUFFER
1,200 points. 600 rebounds. 300 assists. 100 steals. Only two active players playing in their fourth year or less have put up those numbers. Ohio's Erica Johnson and Fresno State's Haley Cavinder.

While Johnson is in her fourth season, Cavinder is only in her third.
Johnson has played in 93 games. Cavinder has played in just 76 games.

PLAYING BIG
Second on the Bulldogs in rebounding the past two seasons, Haley Cavinder has increased her production on the glass this year, averaging 9.8 rebounds per game, an increase of 2.3 from a year ago. For her career, the 5-foot-6 Cavinder leads all active Division I point guards in rebounds with 601.

Cavinder is one of five point guards to have recorded 500 career rebounds and the only one to eclipse 600.

SCOUTING NEW MEXICO

New Mexico coming off its first bye of the conference season.
The Lobos are 15-4 on the year and sit atop the conference at 6-0.
UNM is 9-0 this season at home, and have won their last 11 at The Pit.
New Mexico ranks No. 21 in the NCAA and leads the MW in scoring at 76.7 points per game.
The Lobos high-octane offense is led by its 3-point shooting. They rank No. 3 nationally in attempts (511), No. 2 in 3's made (197), No. 4 in made 3's per game (10.4) and No. 9 in percentage (38.4).
Overall, the Lobs are shooting 45.7 percent, 22nd in the NCAA.
Four Lobos are averaging between 14.7 and 12.7 points per game, led by Shaiquel McGruder.
LaTascya Duff ranks third in the NCAA in 3-point percentage at 48.1 percent. She is also ninth in made 3's (52) and 20th in made 3's per game (2.89.)
Twin sister LaTora Duff ranks 14th nationally in assists per game (5.9).
In conference games, Jaedyn De La Cerda is fourth in the league 16.8 points per game. She is just ahead of McGruder (16.5).

SCOUTING COLORADO STATE

Colorado State enters the weekend 12-4 overall and 3-3 in league play.
The Rams travel to Boise State on Saturday before heading down to Fresno to play the 'Dogs on Monday.
CSU's offense is predicated around controlling the ball. The Rams rank No. 1 in the NCAA in turnovers per game, committing just 9.9 per outing. That has resulted in the Rams holding the nation's No. 2 assist-turnover ratio at 1.57.
CSU also rarely sends its opponents to the line. The Rams lead the country in fewest fouls committed per game at 11.3.
Colorado State ranks No. 4 in the MW in scoring offense, averaging 69.3 points per game while holding teams to 60.6.
The Rams are 35th nationally and third MW in 3-point percentage at 35.3.
McKenna Hofschild runs the show for CSU, ranking fifth nationally in total assists (109), assists per game (6.8) and assist-turnover ratio (3.03). She is also the team's leading scorer with 14.1 points per game, ninth in the MW.

"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.

Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram: fresnostwbb

'Dogs face UNM and CSU in three days

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Haley Cavinder

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs face UNM and CSU in three days

Related News

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Haley Cavinder

Related Videos