'Dogs drop to the Aztecs in tight matchup

Sunday, January 7

San Diego, CA

1 PM PT

Fresno State

9-7,2-1Mountain West

San Diego State

11-5,2-1Mountain West

Fresno St.

San Diego St.

Photo by: Ryan Levy

'Dogs drop to the Aztecs in tight matchup

1/7/2024 10:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Mariela Rubio / Strategic Communications Coordinator

SAN DIEGO, Calif.- Fresno State women's basketball falls to the Aztecs in the final seconds in Viejas Arena on Sunday afternoon, 77-70.

Senior Deajanae Harvey would earn her first start as a Bulldog and record a career & season high 19 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams would fight to set the pace of the game in the first quarter, with each team going on small spurts of scoring runs, switching the lead back-and-forth. A fast break layup by Deajanae Harvey gets the Bulldogs within one going into the second.

Aztecs started the next ten on a 8-0 run shooting back-to-back threes. A quick three-point response from Kylee Fox keeps the Bulldogs within five. Harvey would start a 6-0 run for the 'Dogs off a jump shot floater. Fresno State would find themselves on the line for two and ease the Aztec lead to five going into the half, 41-36.

Fresno State would see their toughest quarter after being held to 11 points and seeing an 18 point deficit. A four minute scoreless stretch from the field for the Bulldogs, gave the Aztecs time to extend a nine point lead to 18 on a 10-1 run. A three-pointer by Keely Brown would see it brought down to 15. Aztecs took a quick trip to the line followed by a layup to bring it back.

Down by 18 again with ten to go, Fresno State would need to turn the game around to break the double-digit lead. Bulldogs would outscore the Aztecs 23-12 opening with back-to-back threes by Taija Sta. Maria and Fox. Breaking down the lead opening on their best run of the day, 8-0. Harvey would cap off the 8-0 run with a three-pointer.

The last minute would be action packed as the 'Dogs fight back to bring the game within three after a 7-0 run with thirty seconds left, 73-70. With the game on the line, Bulldogs would need solid play to tie it up. But, three shooting fouls for San Diego brings them back to the line (4-of-6) to get back a seven point lead.

NOTES

Fresno State is now 2-1 in conference play
Deajanae Harvey would earn her first start of the season and record a career and season high 19 points
Fresno State would hold the Aztecs to shooting 11% from the field (1-of-12) in the final quarter
Team highs: Points (19, Deajanae Harvey & Taija Sta. Maria), Rebounds (7, Keely Brown), Assists (5, Deajanae Harvey) and Three-pointers (3, Kylee Fox)
Fresno State would outscore San Diego in the fourth quarter, 23-12
Fresno State shot 39% (25-of-64) from the field, 32% (9-of-28) from the three and 61% from the foul line (11-of-18)
Fresno State would see less turnovers (7-to-11), two more made three-pointers (9-to-7) and shoot 11% better from the foul line than the Aztecs
Fresno State would hold even to the Aztec in points from turnovers (9) and assists (13)

UP NEXT:
'Dogs are back home next week to host Colorado State (9-4, 0-2 MW) on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. PT and Utah State (3-11, 0-3 MW) Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. PT streaming live on the Mountain West Network.

"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