GAME 2: FRESNO STATE (1-0, 0-0 MW) VS SANTA CLARA (1-0, 0-0 WCC)
Sat. Nov. 9, 2024 | 2 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
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram: @FresnoStWBB
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State women's basketball continues the home stand excitement at the Save Mart Center this Saturday to host the Santa Clara Broncos at 2 p.m. PT streaming live on the Mountain West Network.
BULLDOG BONES
Fresno State and Santa Clara will meet for the 42nd time in program history and 21st time in Fresno
Fresno State leads the all-time meetings 25-16 and has won the last seven home meetings since 2003
Saturday's theme night is Jr. Bulldogs Night, all Jr. Bulldog kids club members get in free
Head coach Jaime White is now 8-3 in season openers since her first season in 2014
Mia Jacobs earns her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, thus makes the eight of her career and sixth in a Bulldog uniform
Maria Konstantinidou logged her first start in a Bulldog uniform
Fresno State held Fresno Pacific to 13 points in periods
Two Bulldogs finished the night in double-figures, Mia Jacobs (18) and Mariah Elohim (16)
Since 1971 Fresno State has won their season opener 29 times
Fresno State saw 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
Beginning the 2026-27 academic year Fresno State will join the Pac 12
WHAT'S TO COME THIS WEEK
Bulldogs close out their first week of play in the 2024 season hosting the Santa Clara Broncos at the Save Mart Center on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. PT. Saturday's game theme is Jr. Bulldog night, where all Jr. Bulldogs kids club members get in free.
It'll be a quick turn around for Fresno State as they're set for two more home games with just a day's break between each. After Santa Clara, Bulldogs host UC Riverside on Monday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m., quickly followed by Southern Utah on Wednesday, Nov. 13 also at 6 p.m.
ABOUT THE MATCH UP
Fresno State and Santa Clara will meet for the 42nd time in program history and the 21st time in Fresno since their first meeting in 1978. Fresno State leads the all time meetings in Fresno, 17-3 and has won the last seven meetings at home.
In their most recent meeting in 2019, the Broncos saw a sizable win over the Bulldogs on their home court, 90-66. 'Dogs look to continue their strong presence of victory over the Broncos at home. In the last meeting at the Save Mart Center, Fresno State defeated Santa Clara, 80-53.
Of all non-conference opponents this season, Fresno State has the longest standing all-time meetings with the Broncos at 41. At a close second is CSUN, which the 'Dogs will host on Nov. 22.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE SPECIAL
Junior forward Mia Jacobs secured a double-double in the first game of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jacobs adds to the lengthening list of specialty stats, now with eight career double-doubles (six at Fresno State), nine career games with 10 or more rebounds and a whopping 35 games scoring in double figures (21 at Fresno).
Against Fresno Pacific, Jacobs was the team's leading scorer, rebounder and steals.
BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS
Maria Konstanintodiu earns her first start of her career as Bulldog.
Mia Jacobs and Mariah Elohim finish the night with double figures, Jacobs logs 18 and Elohim with 16
Mia Jacobs opens the season with a double-double, marking her sixth as a Bulldog and eighth of her career
Lucky No. 13, Fresno State held Fresno Pacific to 13 points in three of four periods
Fresno State spent 27 minutes with the lead
Four Bulldogs saw 20 or more minutes on the court; Kylee Fox & Mariah Elohim (28), Mia Jacobs & Saga Ukkonen (24)
Fresno State ups' their all-time series lead against Fresno Pacific, 5-0
Fresno State has defeated Fresno Pacific by at least 24 points in every meeting since 1995
AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Fresno State is one of six MW teams to open the season 1-0, along with Air Force, Boise, Colorado, UNLV and San Diego. As of Nov. 8 UNLV leads the conference at 2-0.
Fresno State ranks second in scoring defense (46), second in steals (14) and is tied for third in three-point field goal percentage (6-of-19)
OPPONENT BREAKDOWN
Michael Floyd resides as the interim head coach for Santa Clara following eight seasons as an associate head coach for the Broncos
Floyd begins his coaching career with a win, 1-0
Santa Clara enters this contest with a 1-0 record following their win at home over UC Riverside on Monday Nov. 4
The Broncos finished the 2023-24 campaign with 25-9, 12-4 WCC
Most notable returner for Santa Clara is Olivia Pollard who was First Team All-WCC and finished 8th in the nation in three pointers with 95 during the 2023-2024 season
The Broncos have four members of their 2023-2024 roster that are returning, Pollard and Latu remain the only two Broncos to start this season
Santa Clara finished second in the WCC last season after falling to Portland in the semifinals of the WCC tournament