Bulldogs host Roadrunners Friday evening
Game 2: Fresno State (1-0) vs. CSU Bakersfield (0-1)
Nov. 11, 2022 • 4:30 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center
TV/ONLINE: CW59 / Mountain West Network (PBP: Ralph Wood/Analyst: Jack Fertig & Amy Parrish-Finch)
LIVE: BulldogsLive.com
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 77, CSU Bakersfield 64 (Dec. 11, 2021 • Bakersfield, Calif.)
SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads 9-2
THE BREAKDOWN
Fresno State got the 2022-23 season underway on Monday night with a 66-49 victory over Fresno Pacific, the Bulldogs' sixth season-opening win under Head Coach Jaime White.
With a new-look lineup, the 'Dogs used a balanced offense that saw fifth-year senior starters Amiee Book, Yanina Todorova and Amaya West each score 11 points. Freshman Franka Wittenberg contributed a team-high 12 points off the bench.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were active, holding the Sunbirds to just 31.5 percent from the field and forcing 22 turnovers. The 49 points allowed were the lowest since Nov. 28, 2020 against Lamar.
Fresno State enters the 2022-23 season with a revamped roster that includes six newcomers who will join nine returners which includes starters Amiee Book and Tamia Stricklin. Additionally, back are Sydney Dethman, Daylee Dunn, Maria Guimaraes, Imani Lacy, Yanina Todorova and Angela Whitfield. Keely Brown rounds out the returners after missing last season due to injury.
The Bulldogs' six newcomers include Nevada transfer Amaya West and five international players in transfer Thea Mikkelsen, and freshmen Elif Dila Bayrak, Alannah Chatfield, Maria Doreste and Frank Wittenberg.
LOCKING UP
After allowing the third-most (70.6 - 2020-21) and fifth-most (69.1 - 2021-22) points per game in program history in the last two seasons, an expected change this season is an emphasis on defense. Monday night's opener showed that as the 'Dogs held Fresno Pacific to 49 points on 31.5 percent shooting from the field.
The 49 points was the lowest for a Bulldog opponent in a season opener since 2004 (Pepperdine - 38).
BALANCING ACT
During the 2021-22 season, Fresno State's scoring primarily ran through three players. The Bulldogs saw four players reach double figures just five times (3-2). In one game this year, the 'Dogs had four score in double figures, with three of those coming from their starters. The fourth double figure scorer was freshman Frank Wittenberg who led the Bulldogs with 12 points of the bench.
Only nine times last season did a Bulldog score double figures off the bench, and only twice did that player lead the team in score.
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATION
With a history of internationals, this year's squad will have the most on a single roster in program history with eight. While the eight internationals is tied for the seventh-most on a Division I women's basketball roster this season, the 'Dogs are about as diverse as it gets. All eight internationals are from a different country.
Only one D-I women's team (San Francisco - 10) has more countries represented on its roster than Fresno State's nine.
The Bulldogs have players from four different continents (Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, South America).
HEADING TOWARD 1,000
With 969 points in her career, Amiee Book is inching closer to hitting the 1,000-point mark. The senior will be the eighth player to score her 1,000th career point as a Bulldog under Jaime White, joining Alex Sheedy, Bego Faz Davalos, Candice White, Maddi Utti, Aly Gamez, Haley Cavinder and Hanna Cavinder.
Prior to Book's arrival, the New Zealand native scored 761 points in three season at Cal State Fullerton.
GERMAN BULLDOG
With 12 points in her Bulldog debut, Franka Wittenberg became the first freshman at Fresno State to lead the Bulldogs in scoring their debut since Hanna Cavinder
on Nov. 6, 2019.
Wittenberg is the first player in program history from Germany to suit up for the 'Dogs.
SCOUTING CSU BAKERSFIELD
The Roadrunners are off to a 0-1 start after a 86-41 setback on the road on Tuesday at USC.
CSUB was selected 11th in the Big West preseason poll released on Oct. 20.
The Roadrunners are coming off a 5-20 season in 2021-22 finishing 10th in the Big West with a 3-11 mark.
Sophomore forward Hennie van Schaik led the Roadrunners with 11 points and six rebounds on Tuesday against the Trojans.
Head coach Craig McCall is in his 12th season at CSU Bakersfield sporting a 150-167 overall record.
SINGLE-GAME AND SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
New this season, fans can purchase single-game tickets directly through the Bulldog Ticket Office and GoBulldogs.com.
Single-game tickets for regular season games start at $8 for adults and $6 for youth/senior in general admission sections. Tickets in reserved sections are $11.
Season tickets range from $50 for general admission for youth and $70 for adults up to $150 for courtside seats. Reserved sections are $85 per seat.
THE NUTRL ZONE IS COMING TO BULLDOG BASKETBALL!
The NUTRL Zone is making its Bulldog Basketball debut on Nov. 7 for Fresno State's doubleheader against Fresno Pacific at the Save Mart Center.
The NUTRL Zone is a new lounge, floor level club area behind the west baseline open to all fans attending Bulldog Basketball games this season.
The area will feature televisions, food and beverages available for purchase, including NUTRL product.
The new gameday experience will also have bar tables and couches, along with a view of the court and game from the baseline on the floor level.
There are also new baseline seating locations between the baseline and NUTRL Zone available for purchase.