Finally back in Reno

Game 21: Fresno State (9-11, 5-4 MW) at Nevada (14-7, 6-3 MW)
Feb. 5, 2022 • 2 p.m. PT • Reno, Nev. (Lawlor Events Center)
TV/WEB: Mountain West Network (Matt Norville)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network/KRDU 1130AM (Matt Norville)
LIVE STATS: Sidearmstats
SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads 50-13
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 70, Nevada 46 [3/8/21 – Las Vegas, Nev.]

THE BREAKDOWN

Fresno State and Nevada are set to meet for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday will be the Bulldogs first trip to Reno since Jan. 12, 2019. The Bulldogs and Wolf Pack have squared off four times in Fresno and twice in Las Vegas since the last time the two played in Northern Nevada.
The 'Dogs have won five straight in the series, and six of the last seven, including the last meeting in Reno, a 79-63 win. Candice White scored 24 points, her third straight game with at least 24 points in the Lawlor Events Center. White shot 57.1 percent from the field in her final three games in Reno.
On Wednesday, Fresno State won its first game of the season when scoring below 70 points. The 'Dogs had scored at least 70 points in their previous eight wins (8-3). Haley Cavinder (28) and Hanna Cavinder (15) combined for 43 of the Bulldogs' 62 points, scoring 25 in the second half.
The Bulldogs have held back-to-back opponents below 40 percent shooting for the first time this season, as well as below 20 percent from 3.
Fresno State ranks No. 4 nationally in turnovers per game, committing just 11.4 per game.
The Bulldogs rank in the Top 30 nationally in free throw percentage (20th - 77.1%) and 3-point percentage (26th – 36.0%)
Haley Cavinder is the only player in the only player in the country to rank in the Top 35 in points (19.6), rebounds (10.1) and assists (6.0) per game.
Cavinder has recorded a double-double in eight of nine conference games. Her 12 double-doubles rank 13th nationally.

SEARCHING FOR A STEADY LINEUP
Through a number of unforeseen circumstances, Fresno State has been forced to shuffle its lineup more often than most coaches would like. The Bulldogs began the year with the same starting five for seven games. On Dec. 4 (Game 8), the lineup saw its first change of the year when Wytalla Motta moved into the lineup. A game later, Tamia Stricklin was inserted to the five.

Fresno State used three different lineups during its 11-game nonconference schedule. In eight conference games, the Bulldogs have used four different starting lineups but have kept the same lineup the last three games.

LIMITING MISCUES
Coming off three games in which the Bulldogs committed 27 total turnovers, the Bulldogs remain comfortably in the nation's Top 10 in turnovers per game moving up to No. 7, committing 11.4 per contest. The 'Dogs finished each of the last two seasons ranked inside the Top 20 with a high of 16th.

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.

GET TO THE LINE
The charity stripe has been kind to the Bulldogs this season when they have gotten there. The 'Dogs have shot below 70 percent from the line just twice in 20 games while shooting at least 80 percent nine times. Fresno State ranks 23rd in the NCAA in free-throw percentage at 77.1, second in the MW.

While the free throw line has been a benefit when the 'Dogs get there, they don't always get there. In four of their conference games, Fresno State has shot 10 or less attempts.
The Bulldogs are 3-1 in conference when making more free throws than their opponent, yet are 2-3 when then make less.

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 six games, Cavinder has seemingly normalized the triple-double this season at Fresno State. Since the start of 2022 (7 games), she is averaging 21.7 points, 11.4 rebounds and 7.7 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 four times while sitting on a double-double, including last time out (9). At BYU, the junior finished with 10 assists, 9 points and 8 rebounds.

DOING IT ALL
Haley Cavinder has had her hand in everything that the Bulldogs have done. The 5-foot-6 point guard is averaging 19.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and in 6.1 assists per game. The Bulldog sits first in scoring, rebounding, double-doubles (12) and free throw percentage (.986) in the MW and second in assists (6.0).

Nationally, Cavinder is 13th in assists per game, 26th in points per game and 33rd in rebounds per game.
Cavinder is the only player in the country averaging at least 19.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

SCOUTING NEVADA

Nevada (14-7) enters the weekened sitting third in the Mountain West standings, a game ahead of Fresno State, at 6-3.
After starting conference play 4-0, Nevada has dropped three of its last five games.
The Wolf Pack rank as one of the top defensive teams in the league, holding opponents to 59.3 points per game overall (3rd) and 56.4 points in conference games (2nd). They are also holding teams to a league-low 38.3 percent shooting in conference games.
The Bulldogs may rank in the nation's Top 25 in free throw percentage, the Wolf Pack are at the top of the league, ranking eight in the nation at 78.7 percent from the line.
While Nevada ranks fourth in the conference in assist-turnover ratio, transfer point guard Kylie Jimenez sits first nationally in the caterogry with a 4.05.
Jimenez has helped the Wolf Pack commit just 12.7 turnover per game, 18th-best in the NCAA.
De'Ja Hamilton is the Pack's top scorer at 13.5 points per game.

"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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Players Mentioned

Haley Cavinder

Hanna Cavinder

Wytalla Motta

Tamia Stricklin

Fresno State Athletics