GAME 4: FRESNO STATE (2-1, 0-0 MW) VS SOUTHERN UTAH (0-2, 0-0 WAC)
Wed. Nov. 13, 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
IG: @FresnoStWBB
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State women's basketball continues the home stand excitement at the Save Mart Center on Wednesday night to host the Southern Utah Thunderbird's at 6 p.m. PT streaming live on the Mountain West Network
BULLDOG BONES
Fresno State (2-1) hosts Southern Utah (0-2) on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. PT
Fresno State and Southern Utah will meet for the third time since their last meeting in 2001
Bulldogs have scored at least 70 points and held the Thunderbirds' to 68 points or less in prior meetings
Fresno State earned their second win of the season at home after defeating UC Riverside, 63-53
Mia Jacobs saw her third straight double-double with 21 points and a new career-high 15 rebounds against UCR on Monday night
Jacobs ticks another milestone in a Bulldog uniform collecting her 500th point at Fresno State on Monday night
Senior guard Saga Ukkonen saw her first start as a Bulldog and put up 10 points, 6 boards, three assists and three steals
Kylee Fox neared her career-high 19 points and sitting at 17 for the night
Wednesday night's theme is Jersey Night, fans wearing an athletic jersey recieve free admission
In the Mountain West… Mia Jacobs ranks 3rd in scoring (21.3 avg), 2nd in rebounds (11.67 avg), 4th in steals (3.33 avg)
In the Mountain West… Saga Ukkonen and Kylee Fox are tied for 12th in 3PFGM at 5
In the Mountain West… Maria Konstantinidou is tied for 3rd in offensive rebounds (4 avg)
In the Mountain West… Fresno State ranks 3rd in scoring defense (55.33 avg)
ABOUT THE MATCH UP
Fresno State and Southern Utah have a short standing history with one another. The teams look to just their third meeting since 2001 and first since 1997. Both programs each own a series win with Wednesday's contest setting the tone for the series leader. Fresno State looks to continue the winning streak in the series holding the most recent win, 76-66.
HERE TO MAKE A STATEMENT
Mia Jacobs had a statement game against UC Riverside. Going into Monday night's contest the forward was just shy of eight points to mark 500 points at Fresno State. Lucky number 500 was made on a trip to the charity stripe in the second half. In just 32 games, Jacobs amounted 449 points in her debut season with the 'Dogs. To start this season in just three games, Jacobs has already locked in 64 points.
Now Jacobs moves towards the next goal - 1,000 career points. At 793, the Australian native is on the hunt to track down the next 207 points. In addition to achieving 500 points at Fresno State, Jacobs hauled in her third double-double with 21 points and a new career-high 15 rebounds. Jacobs double-double against UCR marks her longest double-double streak of her career.
AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Two MW teams stride upwards to a 3-0 record, Air Force and San Diego State. The Falcons defeated Northern Colorado, 73-66 and the Aztecs took down Idaho State, 62-51.
Three more teams joined the Falcons and Aztecs on an unbeaten record at 2-0, UNLV (-/RV), Boise and Colorado State.
2ND HALF SURGE
Bulldogs' have played a tight game going into the half, barely holding at most a three point lead in their first three games. Coming into the next twenty minutes, Fresno State has worked to turn it around to score no less than 33 points in the remaining two quarters.
Dogs carried strong momentum in the second half to outscore their opponents. In the last contest Fresno State scored 40 points with two players grabbing double-figures in the second half against UCR, Mia Jacobs (16) and Kylee Fox (12). Mia Jacobs has scored in double-figures in the second half in all three games thus far - 12 vs FPU, 15 vs SCU and 16 vs UCR.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Southern Utah and Fresno State will meet for the third time in program history
All previous meeting between the programs have taken place in Fresno
In their last match up on Nov. 24, 2001, the Bulldogs defeated the Thunderbirds', 76-66
Southern Utah sits at 0-2 on the season following two consecutive road loses to Utah and Jackson State
Tracy Mason is entering her seventh year at the helm
The Thunderbirds have seven members of their 2023-2024 roster that are returning, three of which have started this season Daylani Ballena, Ava Uhrich and Samantha Johnson
Most notable returner for Southern Utah is guard Daylani Ballena, who started all 30 games last season and led the team with an average of 15.4 points per game
The Thunderbirds finished last season with a 8-22 overall record, 6-14 conference record, and saw a first round elimination in the WAC tournament by UT Arlington
Southern Utah is 3-12 in their last 15 road games
In their two tough road contests to begin the season, SUU has averaged 29 rebounds and 55 points per game. Southern Utah is currently shooting 81% from the free-throw line.