FRESNO, Calif. – For the second time in the last eight days, Fresno State came up on the short-end in the final seconds, falling 48-47 to Cal Poly after a missed jumper at the buzzer on Friday night at the Save Mart Center.
Franka Wittenberg produced a game-high 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Eleven of those points came in the final 15 minutes as the Bulldogs erased their largest deficit of the night. Yanina Todorova joined her freshman teammate in double figures with 12 points.
How It Happened
Behind a combined 10 points in the opening quarter from Yanina Todorova and Franka Wittenberg, the duo kept the game close through 10 minutes, trailing 12-10. A 3-pointer from Amya West to start the second gave the Bulldogs a brief advantage. The Mustangs countered with a 10-3 stretch during the next nine minutes as the 'Dogs went just 1-of-10 until Wittenberg scored at the buzzer to bring Fresno State within four at the half, 22-18.
Cal Poly increased its lead in the third, and early in the fourth led by nine at 37-28. Off the bench, Daylee Dunn dropped in a pair of 3's off Bulldog steals to cut the deficit to six with seven minutes to play. Trailing by seven with less than five minutes on the clock, the Bulldogs chipped into the deficit with an 8-2 run during the ensuing three minutes. Following a tough bucket in the lane from Wittenberg, Annika Shah answered to put the Mustangs back up four.
Fresno State then cashed in a Cal Poly offensive foul with a triple from Todorova on the wing. Forcing a stop with less than 15 seconds on the clock, Wittenberg forced her way into the lane, hit a step through and laid the ball up and in with 7.2 to go.
Cal Poly answered though as Shah came off a screen and got to the bucket with three ticks coming off the clock. Wittenberg had one more chance but her look from 18 feet caught the front of the rim.
Team Notes
Fresno State held its third opponent this season below 50 points.
The Bulldogs forced 19 turnovers for the fourth straight game and came away with a season-high 13 steals.
Fresno State outscored Cal Poly 20-9 in points off turnovers.
The 'Dogs shot a season-high 35.7 percent from 3 (5-of-14).
Player Notes
Franka Wittenberg scored a season-high 17 points in 29 minutes off the bench, her second double-figure game.
Yanina Todorva was in double figures for the third game, scoring 12 points.
Todorova tied her season high on the glass with six.
Amaya West grabbed a season-high eight rebounds and came up with a career-high five steals.
Up Next
Fresno State will complete its five-game homestand on Tuesday for an afternoon contest with UC Merced. Tipoff at the Save Mart Center is slated for 2 p.m.