FRESNO, Calif. - Playing its third game in five days, the Fresno State women's basketball team defeated Southern Utah 67-59 at the Save Mart Center on Wednesday night, improving to 3-1 on the season.
Mia Jacobs again led the Bulldogs in scoring with a season-high 26 points against the Thunderbirds. She added five rebounds and three steals. Taija Sta. Maria was also in double-figures on Wednesday, scoring a season-high 10 points with six rebounds and four assists.
How it happened
Southern Utah got the first possession, and first points but the Bulldogs answered back with a three-point basket from Sta. Maria to kickstart Fresno State's scoring on a high note. The Bulldogs were up to a six-point run over a minute and a half before SUU ended the run by the Bulldogs. Sta. Maria snuck in for a layup, then Maria Konstantinidou took back possession off a steal and got the ball ahead to Jacobs for the fast break three-point basket to extend Fresno State's lead to 10, 16-6.
Southern Utah ended the first quarter on a seven-point run as the score was 21-15 at the end of the first in favor of the Bulldogs.
Fresno State opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run until the 5:29 mark, but then saw a scoring drought over the next 4:45. The drought ended as Jacobs drew a shooting foul and landed just one at the line. Fresno State's next field goal came by the hand of Jacobs in the paint with just over a minute left in the quarter.
A three-point basket by Avery Watkins in Fresno State's final possession of the half gave the Bulldogs a 36-29 lead at halftime.
Southern Utah came out of the break with the hot hand as Saga Ukkonen grabbed the steal and Jacobs finished the possession with the basket. From there, Southern Utah hit three straight three-pointers to tie the game at 38 and force a Bulldog timeout with 7:15 left in the third quarter. The Thunderbirds had their first lead since the opening minute with their fourth three point basket in the streak, taking a 41-38 lead. Ukkonen ended the streak and the scoring drought, draining one from just inside the arc.
Fresno State went another 5:14 without a field goal until Sta. Maria fought through for the layup with 46 seconds remaining. SUU scored eight points throughout the Bulldogs' scoring drought. The Bulldogs ended the quarter with six in-a-row to pull back within two, 49-47.
Kylee Fox hit her first three-pointer of the night to put Fresno State back ahead, 50-49. Fresno State's defense flipped the script and held SUU scoreless for nearly five minutes, while the offense worked for six points and a five-point lead with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, 58-53.
Jacobs took an attempt at a three, but hit the rim and Sta. Maria grabbed the rebound to keep possession with the Bulldogs as time ticked below a minute. Southern Utah got a three-point basket off, bringing the Thunderbirds within three with 40 seconds remaining. Fresno State added eight points from the free throw line in the final seconds of the game, finishing out with the eight-point victory.
Notable
Fresno State is 3-1 to start the season for the second-consecutive season.
Fresno State is 3-1 to start the season for the sixth time under head coach Jaime White.
Fresno State played its third game in five days, going 2-1 in that span.
Mia Jacobs led the team in scoring for the fourth game in a row.
Jacobs also led the team in rebounding for the fourth game this season.
Taija Sta. Maria had a team-high six assists, leading the team for the third game on the year.
For the fourth consecutive game Fresno State has made 6 or more 3PFG.
Up Next
Fresno State is on the road for the first time in the 2024-25 season for its next game, traveling to UC San Diego for a contest on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. The 'Dogs return home on Nov. 22 to host CSUN for a 6 p.m. tipoff.