GAME 1: FRESNO STATE (0-0, 0-0 MW) VS FRESNO PACIFIC (0-0, 0-0 PWC)
Mon. Nov. 4, 2024 | 6 p.m. PT | Mountain West Network | Save Mart Center | Fresno, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Watch: Mountain West Network
Stats: BulldogsLive.com
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Matt Norville
Sidelines: Taylor Martinez
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram: @FresnostWBB
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State women's basketball officially kicks off the 2024-25 season at home in the Save Mart Center to host cross town rivals Fresno Pacific at 6 p.m. PT. The season opener will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network.
BULLDOG BONES
Head coach Jaime White begins her 11th season at the helm
Fresno State defeated CSU Monterey Bay in an exhibition match on Oct. 25, 72-50
Mia Jacobs was named Preseason All-MW on Oct. 16
Fresno State opens the season at home to host the Sunbirds at 6 p.m. PT
Fresno State and Fresno Pacific will meet for the fifth time in program history and this will be the third consecutive season opener opponent for the Bulldogs
In their last four meeting the Bulldogs have scored a combined 322 points over the Sunbirds
Monday's season opener theme night is High School Night, all high school students get in free
Head coach Jaime White is 7-3 in season openers since her first season in 2014
The 'Dogs are 10-0 when opponents score 50 or less points in an exhibition game
Seven newcomers saw action for the first time in a Bulldog uniform, Laney Amundsen, Mariah Elohim, Saga Ukkonen, Rayna Williams, Danae Powell, Holly Griffiths and Aloni Oliver.
Five Bulldogs saw more than 20 minutes of action, Taija Sta. Maria, Mariah Elohim, Mia Jacobs, Kylee Fox and Saga Ukkonen
Last time the two teams faced off, Bulldogs defeated the Sunbirds in a deafening 72-42 win at the Save Mart Center
Fresno State sees the return of seven players; Taija Sta. Maria, Mia Jacobs, Kylee Fox, Maria Konstantindiou, Malaya LeSueur, Alannah Chatfield and Elif Dila Byrack
Fresno State welcomed eight newcomers for the 2024-25 season; Saga Ukkonen, Mariah Elohim, Laney Amundsen, Holly Griffiths, Avery Watkins, Aloni Oliver, Danae Powell and Rayna Williams
ABOUT THE MATCH UP
Fresno State and Fresno Pacific will meet for the fifth time in program history since the first meeting in 1995. All four meetings between the two teams have been at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State leads the all-time meetings 4-0 and 4-0 at the Save Mart Center. The last time out Fresno State snatched a 28 point win at home to open the 2023-24 season, 70-42.
TRIPLE THREAT 'DOGS
With seven returners this season, the 'Dogs have a strong set of veterans. Of the returners, three players averaged at least 28 minutes on the court per game, Sta. Maria led the way at 32 minutes. The three look to be more cohesive together on the court as veterans with heavy experience.
Junior forward Mia Jacobs tops the list of returners with 32 starts under her belt in the 2023-24 campaign. This past season Jacobs was just shy of recording 500 points as Bulldogs, racking 449 points. Jacobs sits at the top of the 'Dog pile as the teams Year-by-Year Scoring, Rebounding, Field Goal %, 3-Point Field Goal %, and Free Throw % Leader (2023-24).
Jacobs is now the 8th all-time scorer (449) and minutes played (906) as a sophomore in program history. Jacobs stands with 779 career points and is on track to join the 1,000 point club early-on this season. Jacobs earned her fair share of conference honors with a 'Player of the Week' nod after a career high game against Arizona State at the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series and was named All-MW honorable mention.
Sophomore guard Taija Sta. Maria is also one of three starters to return. Sta. Maria had a preeminent season as a freshman, earning her rank as a notable player among the conference after being named to MW All-Freshman team.
Sta. Maria was additionally one of the few freshmen to be tabbed with the conferences 'Freshman of the Week' honor multiple times in a season, earning three to her name. Etching herself in Bulldog history, Sta. Maria ranks eleventh in most points scored (246), third most assists (122) and third for most minutes played (1073) as a freshman in program history.
Sophomore forward Kylee Fox looks ahead to achieve even more this season. In her debut season, Fox locked in 31 starts. From there, it was a worthy season for Fox, as she produced 10 games scoring in double-digits
Sly as a Fox, she led the team in steals nine times with seven of those recording three or more steals and recorded a career-high five steals against Air Force in the opening round of the Mountain West Tournament. Fox created a standout season for herself, among all freshmen in Fresno State program history, Fox ranks 10th in all-time scoring (255 points), 5th in all-time steals (50) and 6th in minutes played (965).
Other returners also include Maria Konstanitnidou, Malaya LeSueur, Alannah Chatfield and Elif Dila Bayrak. Konstanitdou and LeSueur also saw action in games as freshman and helped the Bulldogs with an opening round win in the 2024 MW championship.
THE TRANSFERS
This season's roster features five transfers of the eight newcomers.
Saga Ukkonen
The Finland native spent three seasons at Texas Tech (2021-23). Ukkonen will have one year of eligibility at Fresno State. In her final season as a Red Raider, Ukkonen appeared in 27 games and one start, matching her career-high of 27 games played. Ukkonen will be the first player from Finland to play for the Bulldogs within the past 20 years.
Laney Amundsen
The Fresno native spent her collegiate career close by and will come back to finish it off right at home for her final year of eligibility. Amundsen spent her last two seasons at CSUN and started 23 games in 30 appearances. Averaging 6.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg in 28.6 minutes per game and earned Big West Winter Academic All-Conference team.
Holly Griffiths
The third Aussie to join the crew hails from Melbourne. Griffiths joins the Bulldogs for her sophomore season after transferring from Pepperdine. At Pepperdine, Griffiths' averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in 20 appearances during her true freshman season.
Mariah Elohim
The SoCal native returns to the Golden State for her junior year with the Bulldogs. Elohim spent two seasons at Long Island University and was named All-NEC Second Team and Three-time NEC Prime Performer. Appeared in all 30 games, averaging 12.7 points per game sophomore season. Elohim recorded double digit points in 23 games. As a freshman she appeared in 29 games and was named NEC Co-Rookie of Week & NEC Prime Performer.
Avery Watkins
Prior to Fresno State, Watkins spent two seasons with Hawaii. Watkins is looking to come out on the strong side after redshirting the 2023-24 season due to injury. In her first debut as a Rainbow, Watkins played in eight games, started in four as a true freshman and was named to the Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll.
PRESEASON POLL
The 2024-25 Mountain West women's basketball preseason honors and team were announced on Oct. 16 to kick off the 2024 MW Media Day as voted on by the league's 11 head coaches and select media. Fresno State was predicted to finish in 9th place, while junior forward Mia Jacobs was named preseason All-MW.
THE SEASON AHEAD
Fresno State will play four games at home before their first road match in San Diego against the Tritons on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.
Bulldogs see two high profile games set for the non conference portion of the season. First up, Bulldogs' will travel to Hawaii over Thanksgiving week for the Rainbow Wahine Showdown. In Honolulu, the 'Dogs will take on hosts Hawaii, UCLA and UT Martin at the SimpliFi Arena at Sheriff Center.
For their third and final road game of non-conference, Fresno State will visit newest Big 10 members and most recent Pac 12 tournament title winners, USC. 'Dogs will face the Women of Troy at the Galen Center on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. streaming live on the Big 10 network.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Head coach Tim Beauregard enters his ninth season as the head coach of Fresno Pacific
Sunbirds finished the 2023-24 season 21-9, 14-6 PacWest
Notable returners are Julie Ramirez and Anisa Rillo, the two went 30-for-30 on starts last season
Former Bulldog, Angela Whitfield returns to the Save Mart Center, this time as a Sunbird. Whitfield redshirted her two seasons at Fresno State (2021, 2022), but played seven games in a Bulldog uniform