'Dogs set for opening round of MW tournament

NO. 9 FRESNO STATE (14-17, 7-11 MW) VS NO. 8 AIR FORCE (15-16, 8-10 MW)
Sun., Mar. 10, 2024 | Mountain West Tournament | 2 p.m. PT | Thomas & Mack Center | Mountain West Network | Las Vegas, Nev.

MEDIA COVERAGE
Watch: Mountain West Network
Play-by-Play: Nate Kreckman
Analyst: Tammy Blackburn
Post Game: Press Conference
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Matt Norville

Tournament Central
Womens Bracket
Tickets: Single-Session | All-Session
M (Ride) Shuttle
Thomas & Mack Center: Website | Directions

FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State women's basketball is set to open the first round of the Mountain West Tournament this Sunday against the No. 8 seed Air Force. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center and streaming live on the Mountain West Network.

BULLDOG BONES

As the No. 9 seed, Fresno State will play in the first round of the tournament against No. 8 Air Force
Bulldogs received the No. 9 seed after a loss to New Mexico earlier this week, 72-58
In the last two tournament appearances for Fresno State have seen knock outs in the first round (2022, Utah State) (2023, Nevada)
This will be the first neutral meeting in between the two programs in series history
For the second consecutive time Fresno State will enter the tournament as the No. 9 seed
Four Bulldogs have recorded ten or more 10+ games this season, Mia Jacobs leads the team with the team with 20 games; Deajanae Harvey (11), Keely Brown (11) and Kylee Fox (10)
Fresno State is 9-0 when shooting better than opponents
Four Bulldogs have had at least one 20+ points, Mia Jacobs also leads the team with five games this season; Deajanae Harvey (2), Sydney Dethman (1), Taija Sta. Maria (1)
In the last two meetings, Fresno State has not seen a winning margin lower than six points
Fresno State enters the tournament on a three game losing streak streak, dropping contest against Boise State, Wyoming and New Mexico
Bulldogs are 10-3 when leading at the half and 6-2 when leading for over 20 minutes
Fresno State has seen strong success with a starting lineup that features Sta. Maria, Jacobs, Dethman, Brown and Fox recording nine wins
With a win at Utah State head coach Jaime White surpasses 100 conference wins, becoming the third active women's basketball head coach in the Mountain West, trailing Boise State's Gordy Presnell and Colorado State's Ryun Williams
With the win a second against Utah State, Fresno State has already passed its win total and conference win total from a season ago. 2022-33 (10-22, 3-15 MW)
Three Bulldogs have been tabbed with Mountain West honors so far this season, Taija Sta. Maria (3x, Freshman of the Week, Nov. 13, Dec. 11 & Feb. 12), Kylee Fox (Freshman of the Week, Nov. 11) and Mia Jacobs (Player of the Week, Dec. 26)

TIME TO MAKE (MW) HISTORY
Head coach Jaime White has held a strong standing in the Mountain West in her tenure leading the Bulldogs. Just this season Coach White has surpassed 100 conference wins (70-50 at Utah State, Feb. 3), making her the first active female women's basketball head coach in the Mountain West and the third active women's basketball MW head coach to reach this milestone.

Coach White's mark doesn't end there, in her ten years she has seen six championship games with two championship wins (2013, 2014) as the No. 2 seed. Prior to 2022 coach White had not entered the tournament lower than No. 7 (2017), in these last two seasons the Bulldogs have only seen a first round appearance. Fresno State stands just a bit taller entering the tournament this season, earning four more conference wins then last season.

ABOUT THE MATCH UP
Fresno State and Air Force will meet for the 26th time in series history and for the third time this season. The two teams will see each other for the first time in a neutral setting and at the tournament since Fresno State joined the Mountain West in 2013. Fresno State leads the all-time meetings 21-4.

This season the Bulldogs own wins in both meetings with the Falcons and are looking for the potential third to move onto the next round of the tournament. Last time out Fresno State was able to hold over on the Falcons to take the six-point lead all the way to the finish.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Falcons enter the tournament on a three game win streak, with wins over the Spartans (67-53), Utah State (85-46) Boise State (67-66)
Falcon scoring is led by Milahnie Perry and Madison Smith, both averaging 16.8 and 11.5 points per game, respectively.
Air Force comes into Sunday shooting 40% from the field, 35% from the three and 77% from the foul line with a -7.00 rebounding margin and -0.89 scoring margin
Falcons lead the conference in 3PFG% at .350 (127-of-363) and steals averaging 10.3 pg
Air Force's, Keelie O'Hollaren was tabbed as Freshman of the Week on Feb. 5

UP & DOWN PERIODS
Whether it's opening the game with a high scoring period and seeing ten or less points in the final period or vice versa. Fresno State has seen their struggles opening and closing games this season, but the Bulldogs have yet to see a win, either way.

0-4 when scoring more than ten points in the opening period and less than 10 points in the fourth period
0-3 when opening the period with less than ten points and scoring more than ten points in the final period.

Fresno State played with consistency midway through the season logging seven games scoring ten or more points every period, including in four wins. Even in tight matchups that ended in a loss

Aztecs (15, 21,11, 23)
Boise State (10, 15,13, 27)
New Mexico (13, 23, 18, 23)

TAKING IT TO THE ARC FOR THREE
Throughout the season Fresno State has seen its strength taking shots from the three-point line. With two Bulldogs holding a top ten rank in conference standing, Mia Jacobs and Kylee Fox. The duo are tied for 7th in the conference with 35 FGM (1.94 avg) through 18 conference games.

Individually, Jacobs shoots 37% from the three (58-of-156) with a conference high of 6 at Nevada. Fox shoots 38% from the three (56-of-144) with a conference high of 5-of-5 versus San Jose State.

As a team Fresno State held the No.1 position in 3PFGM throughout the season. Still at No. 1, Bulldogs hold a 7.39 average and have only seen four conference games shooting less than six 3PFG. Bulldogs have a season high of 14 3FGM versus San Jose State.

"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

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs set for opening round of MW tournament

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