Fresno State heads to Northern California this week after a trip to the South last week.
Game 7: Fresno State (2-4) at Cal (5-1)
Dec. 2, 2021 • 11:30 a.m. PT • Berkeley, Calif. (Haas Pavilion)
SERIES HISTORY: Cal 21-5
LAST MEETING: Cal 90, Fresno State 76 [3/23/13 – Lubbock, Texas]
Game 8: Fresno State (2-4) at Saint Mary's (4-3)
Nov. 4, 2021 • 1 p.m. PT • Moraga, Calif. (University Credit Union Pavilion)
SERIES HISTORY: Tied at 8-8
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 90, Saint Mary's 71 [12/11/20 – Fresno, Calif.]
THE BREAKDOWN
Fresno State is the midst of a stretch of five consecutive games away from home, the longest stretch for the program since 2012 when the 'Dogs played six straight away from Fresno.
Fresno State returns to Haas Pavilion on Thursday for the first time since March 20, 2010. On that day, the Bulldogs were not playing Cal, they were facing fourth-seeded Baylor in the NCAA Tournament in Brittany Griner's first career tournament game.
Thursday's contest marks the Bulldogs' first game against Cal since the 2013 NCAA Tournament, and first time playing the Bears at Haas Pavilion since 2006.
The Bulldogs will travel to Saint Mary's for the first time since Nov. 27, 2015.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Following two games in San Diego last weekend, Fresno State heads back out on the road this week, heading to the Bay Area to face 5-1 Cal and 4-3 Saint Mary's. It will be the fifth and sixth road games of the nonconference season for the Bulldogs. Fresno State's current road stretch will end at five after its trip to CSU Bakersfield on Dec. 11.
The 'Dogs have not played seven nonconference games away from home since 2012. That year, Fresno State also played two more nonconference games (13) compared to this season (11).
TOUGH SCHEDULE TO START
With a team that brought in six players, the Bulldogs have faced a difficult stretch of games to start the season. In their first six games they have played three teams which reached the 2021 NCAA Tournament (Utah Valley, BYU, Drexel) all away from home.
Four of Fresno State's six opponents have at least four wins including BYU which is 7-0 is ranked in the Top 25.
Fresno State's next opponent, Cal, sits at 5-1 after starting the year with five straight wins.
ON ANOTHER LEVEL
Through six games, Haley Cavinder has had her hand in everything that the Bulldogs have done. The 5-foot-6 point guard leads the Mountain West in rebounds (9.7 rpg) and assists (6.2 apg) and sits third in scoring (17.0 ppg). She is also sits first in double-doubles (3), free throw percentage (1.000) and 3-point field goals made per game (2.5) and
Nationally, Cavinder is 14th in assists per game, 23rd in double-doubles, 45th in rebounds per game and 90th in points per game.
Cavinder is also one of four players nationally ranked No. 1 in free throw percentage at 100.0. The junior is 21-of-21 on the year.
HEAVY WORKLOAD
Playing high minutes the past two seasons, Haley Cavinder and Hanna Cavinder have taken on an heavier workload this season as the two rank 13th and 16th nationally in minutes played per game. Haley is at 37.9 while Hanna is at 37.1.
Fresno State is one of three teams in the country to have two players in the Top 20 in minutes played per game along with Seton Hall and and Middle Tennessee.
1,000-POINT TWINS
With her 10th point at BYU (Nov. 13), Hanna Cavinder became the 28th player in Fresno State history to join the 1,000 point club. She also became the second Cavinder to reach the career milestone, joining her sister Haley who accomplished the feat late last season.
Hanna reached the 1,000-point mark in 62 games, the third fastest to do so in program. Only Haley (57) and Ki-Ki Moore (60) did it in less games.
Haley currently sits No. 20 on Fresno State's list with 1,168 points, four back of Stacey Cornaggia. Hanna is 27th at 1,065, five back of Bree Farley.
SCOUTING CAL
Cal enters the week at 5-1 overall and is coming off of its first loss of the season, a 64-45 defeat to Ole Miss.
The five wins are four more than the Bears had a year ago when they finished 1-16 during a COVID shortened season.
Freshman point guard Jadya Curry has changed Cal's fortunes as she's averaging a team-high 21.0 points per game to go along with 4.7 rebounds per outing. She ranks 12th in the NCAA in points per game.
Junior Evelien Lutje Schipholt is averaging a double-double through six games. The 6-foot-2 forward is second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game and leads the Bears in rebounding with 10.5 per game. She ranks 11th nationally with four double-doubles.
Cal ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in scoring, averaging 72.0 points per game and is outscoring opponents by 13.3 per contest.
The Bears are holding opponents to 32.8 percent shooting from the field which ranks 22nd nationally.
SCOUTING SAINT MARY'S
Saint Mary's comes into the weekend at 3-4 on the year and has won its last two games, a 68-45 win over UCSB last week and a 79-71 against San Jose State on Tuesday.
The Gaels are averaging 64.3 points per outing but allowing 66.7.
Taycee Wedin is the team's top scorer at at 16.6 points per game. The bulk of the senior's points come from beyond the arc where 26 of her 36 made field goals are from. Wedin ranks third in the NCAA in 3-point field attempts (70), fifth in 3-point field goals made (26) and seventh in 3-point field goals made per game (3.71).
Ali Bamberger is averaging a double-double with 14.4 points and 10.3 rebound per game. Her three double-doubles ranks 23rd nationally. The 6-foot-3 forward's 10.3 rebounds per game sits 30th in the NCAA.
Overall, the Gaels rank second in the WCC in rebounds, grabbing 41.6 per game.