Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, December 16
Fresno, CA
2 P.M. PT
Fresno State
vs
Sacramento State
Photo by: Wyatt Bible
'Dogs Rally in the Valley to host Sacramento State
12/15/2023 12:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FRESNO STATE Â (6-5) vs SACRAMENTO STATE (1-6)Â
Sat. Dec. 16. | 2 p.m. PT | Mountain West Network | Save Mart Center | Fresno, CAÂ
MEDIA COVERAGEÂ
Watch: Mountain West NetworkÂ
Stats: BulldogsLive.comÂ
Radio: Bulldog Sports NetworkÂ
Play-by-play: Matt NorvilleÂ
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateWBBÂ
BULLDOG BONESÂ
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTÂ
Taija Sta. Maria earned her second Mountain West Honor this week (Dec. 11). Sta. Maria receives the third honor for the Bulldogs this season and for the first time in program history is the first freshman to receive multiple honors in a single season. Sta. Maria has earned Freshman of the week when scoring double-digit points in both games that week.Â
After a tough set of back-to-back losses last week, Sta. Maria returned back to recording double-digit points in both games vs Cal State Fullerton and at Cal Poly. Sta. Maria led the Bulldogs in scoring over the course of the two contests, despite losses to Cal State Fullerton (68-77) and Cal Poly (59-84). Averaging 17 points per game, this last week, shooting 52.4% from the field (11-of-21) and 91.7% from the foul line (11-of-12). Against Cal State Fullerton, Sta. Maria logged 18 points, six assists and three rebounds. At Cal Poly, Sta. Maria logged 16 points, four rebounds and one assist.Â
Â
BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS
With conference play just around the corner, the Mountain West is staking up to be tough competition. As of Dec. 14 only two teams remain undefeated, UNLV (9-0) and Colorado State (8-0).Â
UNLV enters the AP Top 25 poll at No. 23, they are the first Mountain West women's team this season to be ranked. Senior Desi-Rae Young played a career-night against Oklahoma State recording 32 points. Lady Rebels defeated the Sooners in Norman, 96-72.Â
Colorado State doesn't stray too far behind, also riding on an unbeaten non-conference play. McKenna Holfschild recorded an individual season high points of 36 against Montana, to now lead the conference. Holfschild was also selected as the MW preseason player of the year.Â
"Fresno State Athletics - Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities" - The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California's Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate
Sat. Dec. 16. | 2 p.m. PT | Mountain West Network | Save Mart Center | Fresno, CAÂ
MEDIA COVERAGEÂ
Watch: Mountain West NetworkÂ
Stats: BulldogsLive.comÂ
Radio: Bulldog Sports NetworkÂ
Play-by-play: Matt NorvilleÂ
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateWBBÂ
BULLDOG BONESÂ
- Fresno State sits 6-5 entering the last home game of the non-conference portion this season
- Fresno State is coming off another road loss to Cal Poly, 84-59
- Freshman Taija Sta. Maria was tabbed as Mountain West Freshman of the Week for the second time this season
- This is the second Big Sky opponent for the 'Dogs this season
- Fresno State is 0-1 against Big Sky teams this season (Portland State)Â
- Through eleven games Fresno State has shot 41% from the field (269-of-654) and 72% from the foul line going 140-of-193.Â
- Fresno State enters Saturday's match up with a +6.64 scoring margin (No. 4 in MW) and +2.18 rebounding marginÂ
- Fresno State will close out the non-conference portion of the season, with one more game before conference play opens against Air Force
- Bulldogs' are ranked No. 3 among Mountain West teams in steals with 124 (11.27 avg)
- Fresno State ranks No.2 among Mountain West teams in rebounding defense with 359 rebounds (32.64 avg)
- Fresno State earned their first win on the road (neutral) against Eastern Illinois at the GCU Classic
- Fresno State recorded their highest team score this season vs UC Merced, 100-47
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTÂ
- Head coach Aaron Kallhof is entering his first season leading the Hornets
- Sacramento State is coming off their first win of the season against Cal State Northridge, 58-48
- Hornets are 1-6 and sit 10th in the Big Sky ConferenceÂ
- Through seven games the Hornets have a -16.29 scoring margin (10th in BS) scoring an average of 51 points per gameÂ
- Sacramento State shoots 37% from the field going 130-of-345 and 58% from the three going 55-of-94
- Fresno State and Sacramento State will meet for the 26th time on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs lead the series history 18-8 and will meet for the 13th time at the Save Mart Center. The last time out, 'Dogs fell by one in Sacramento at the Nest, 62-61.
- Core starters for the Hornets are Summah Hanson and Benthe Versteep, both players going 7-of-7.Â
- Hanson has a combined 110 points (15.7 avg), shoots 785 from the field (22-of-28), 46% from the three (14-of-30), 61 rebounds, nine steals and nine blocks.Â
- Versteep has a combined 51 points (7.3) avg and shoots 36% from the field going 23-of-63.Â
- Irune Orio has five starts this seasonÂ
Taija Sta. Maria earned her second Mountain West Honor this week (Dec. 11). Sta. Maria receives the third honor for the Bulldogs this season and for the first time in program history is the first freshman to receive multiple honors in a single season. Sta. Maria has earned Freshman of the week when scoring double-digit points in both games that week.Â
After a tough set of back-to-back losses last week, Sta. Maria returned back to recording double-digit points in both games vs Cal State Fullerton and at Cal Poly. Sta. Maria led the Bulldogs in scoring over the course of the two contests, despite losses to Cal State Fullerton (68-77) and Cal Poly (59-84). Averaging 17 points per game, this last week, shooting 52.4% from the field (11-of-21) and 91.7% from the foul line (11-of-12). Against Cal State Fullerton, Sta. Maria logged 18 points, six assists and three rebounds. At Cal Poly, Sta. Maria logged 16 points, four rebounds and one assist.Â
Â
BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS
- Taija Sta. Maria played another double-digit game against Cal Poly, as the team's leading scorerÂ
- Sydney Dethman led the team with 7 reboundsÂ
- Two Bulldogs recorded double-digit points, Taija Sta. Maria (16) and Keely Brown (14)
- Fresno State would shoot in the 30% range from the field (32.7%) and the three (33.3%)
- Fresno State would score more points from turnovers (9) and second chance (10)
- 'Dogs would hold the lead for 15 minutes of the game to Cal Poly's 23 minutes
With conference play just around the corner, the Mountain West is staking up to be tough competition. As of Dec. 14 only two teams remain undefeated, UNLV (9-0) and Colorado State (8-0).Â
UNLV enters the AP Top 25 poll at No. 23, they are the first Mountain West women's team this season to be ranked. Senior Desi-Rae Young played a career-night against Oklahoma State recording 32 points. Lady Rebels defeated the Sooners in Norman, 96-72.Â
Colorado State doesn't stray too far behind, also riding on an unbeaten non-conference play. McKenna Holfschild recorded an individual season high points of 36 against Montana, to now lead the conference. Holfschild was also selected as the MW preseason player of the year.Â
"Fresno State Athletics - Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities" - The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California's Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate
WBB head coach Ryan McCarthy Introductory Press Conference [4/21/25]
Monday, April 21
WBB Media Availability [9/23]
Monday, September 23
The Game Changers: Coaches Corner - Jazmine Redmon
Wednesday, February 21
WBB Media Availability [11/2]
Thursday, November 02