'Dogs and Aggies meet on Saturday

Game 19: Fresno State (7-11, 3-4 MW) vs. Utah State (7-12, 2-7 MW)
Jan. 29, 2022 • 2 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
TV/WEB: Mountain West Network (Matt Norville)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network/KRDU 1130AM (Matt Norville)
LIVE STATS: BullodgsLive.com
SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads 27-4
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 93, Utah State 85 [2/6/21 – Logan, Utah]

THE BREAKDOWN

The Bulldogs are coming off their first bye of the conference season.
The 'Dogs have three games on the schedule before their next bye, a three-game stretch that begins at home against Utah State before hitting the road for Boise State and Nevada.
It will be the first time Fresno State will face each team this season.
The Bulldogs have won their last six games against Utah State, winning five of those by double digits.
The 'Dogs have not hosted the Aggies since Dec. 7, 2019. The last three in the series have been played in Logan, Utah.
All of Fresno State's wins this year have come when scoring at least 70 points (7-3).
Fresno State ranks No. 8 nationally in turnovers per game, committing just 11.6 per game.
The Bulldogs rank in the Top 25 nationally in free throw percentage (19^th - 77.3%) and 3-point percentage (23^rd – 36.2%)
Haley Cavinder became the 20^th player in NCAA Division I women's basketball to record three triple-doubles in a season when she posted 21 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists at New Mexico.
Cavinder is the only player in the only player in the country to rank in the Top 40 in points (19.2), rebounds (9.9) and assists (5.9) per game.
During the last six games, Wytalla Motta is averaging 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, posting three double-doubles.

BECOMING A NORMAL THING
Prior to this year, Fresno State had just two triple-doubles in its 50-plus year history. Both of those came from two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Bego Faz Davalos. The Mountain West had seen 16 in its history. Haley Cavinder has added three more to both of those lists this season after earning her third of the year against New Mexico on Jan. 22. With that, she became the 20th player in NCAA Division I women's basketball history to record at least three in a single season, and 32nd player to record at least three in a career.

With two in the last four games, Cavinder has seemingly normalized the triple-double this season at Fresno State. Since the start of 2022 (5 games), she is averaging 21.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game, putting fans on triple-double watch when she is on the court.
Cavinder has also had multiple close calls this year, finishing with seven or more assists three times while sitting on a double-double. At BYU, the junior finished with 10 assists, 9 points and 8 rebounds.

CASHING IN AT THE STRIPE
Through 18 games, Haley Cavinder has missed one free throw, ranking No. 1 in the NCAA with a 98.4 percent (*2.5 made per game). She is 60-of-61 on the year after opening the season with 39 straight made free throws.

The 39 consecutive free throws streak is tied for the 36th-longest streak in NCAA history.
Cavinder entered her junior season shooting a career 77.9 percent from the line (137-of-176).

MAKING A DIFFERENCE INSIDE
Returning for her extra year of eligibility (covid waiver), Wytalla Motta made her impact felt at BYU. Sitting out the season opener, Motta returned two days later, scoring 10 points and grabbing three rebounds in 13 minutes. Motta had reached double figures two other times during the next 10 games. But during the last six, Motta has flipped a switch. The last six games have seen Motta averaged 19.2 points and 9.2 rebounds.

Motta started 44 games during her first two seasons, and has started the last 10 this season.
After six double-digit scoring games in her first two seasons, Motta has surpassed that with nine in 17 games thus far in her final season.
Until Dec. 31, the 6-foot senior had not scored more than 13 points in a game. She then had a three-game stretch of 17, 23 and 19 points.
With one double-double entering the year, Motta has posted three in the last six games.

SCOUTING UTAH STATE

Utah State enters the Saturday on a two-game win streak after earning its first conferences games of the season, defeating Wyoming and San Jose State.
The Aggies are 7-12 on the year, 7-2 in Mountain West play.
USU is 2-8 on the road. Prior to the Aggies 63-61 win at the buzzer at San Jose State on Thursday night, they hadn't won on the road since Nov. 27 at Southeaster Louisiana, also a two-point win (73-71).
Utah State ranks 10th in the league in scoring margin with a -9.58 average overall and a -11.78 averaging in conference games.
Kaylin Randhawa paces the Aggies' offense averaging 13.4 points per game, 13th-best in the league.
Adryana Quezada ranks fourth in the conference in rebounding collecting 7.8 per game. The junior's scoring has picked up in MW play, averaging 15.1 points per game. Quezada has scored 67 points in the last three contests.

UPDATED SAVE MART CENTER GAME DAY INFORMATION

Based on public health guidelines, all Save Mart Center attendees must be fully vaccinated OR have obtained a negative COVID-19 test (persons 3 years and older).
Masks will be required for all indoor areas. At the Save Mart Center, masks will be required at all times, with exception for when actively eating or drinking.
For non-vaccinated guests 3 years or older, proof of a negative PCR test will be required within 2 days of the event OR an antigen test within 1 day of the event.
Guests will need to show the negative results of their tests, or show proof of full vaccination at one of the tents outside of the arena prior to entry.

"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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'Dogs and Aggies meet on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Haley Cavinder

Wytalla Motta

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs and Aggies meet on Saturday

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Haley Cavinder

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