Game 10: Fresno State (4-5) vs. Northern Arizona (4-5)
Dec. 8, 2022 • 6 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center
TV/ONLINE: Mountain West Network (PxP: Matt Norville / Sideline: Taylor Martinez)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (PxP: Matt Norville / Sideline: Taylor Martinez)
LIVE: BulldogsLive.com
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 83, Northern Arizona 66 (Nov. 24, 2019 • Fresno, Calif.)
SERIES HISTORY: Tied at 3-3
TICKETS: Bulldog Ticket Office / GoBulldogs.com
BREAKDOWN
Away from home since Nov. 22, Fresno State returns to the Save Mart Center for three straight games beginning with Northern Arizona on Thursday.
Eight of the Bulldogs' 13 nonconference games will be played in Fresno.
Fresno State has held opponents to a Mountain West-low 51.3 points per game, ranking 11th in the NCAA.
Jaime White led team's own three of the program's Top 5 marks for scoring defense. The 51.3 points per game allowed this season is 7.7 ppg below the program's current record.
The Bulldogs have kept five of its nine opponents below 50 points. It is the most in a season for Fresno State since 2016-17.
While strong defense has kept the 'Dogs in games, they have struggled in close games, going 0-4 in contests separated by three points or less.
After scoring her 1,000th career point against Penn State, Amiee Book was on fire last week back-to-back double figure games which included a career-high 31-point effort at Portland State. The senior was 8-of-14 from deep, making the second-most 3's in a game by a Bulldog in program history.
Like Book, Amaya West began heating up last week, first with a season-high 15 points at Portland State and then tying her career-high with 18 at Sacramento State. Making 10 of her last 15 attempts from the field, West was 18-of-63 on the year through the first half of the contest at Portland State.
Steady throughout the young season, Yanina Todorova is averaging a team-high 13.2 points per game, fourth-best in the Mountain West.
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 was an emphasis on defense. A staple under Jaime White teams when she first arrived, the 'Dogs have returned to tough defensive play, holding five of its opponents below 50 points.
• The Bulldogs rank No. 11 nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to 51.3 points per game.
• While the 'Dogs have been aggressive defensively, forcing 17.8 turnovers per game, they have done so without fouling, committing the 12-fewest fouls per game in the NCAA at 13.2.
IN A DIFFERENT CLASS
Through nine games, Fresno State is holding teams to 51.3 points per game. While just under a third of the season has been played the Bulldogs are allowing more than seven points less per game than the program record of 59.0 ppg.
The Top 5 scoring defenses in program history have allowed between 59.0-60.1 points.
Three of those were coached by Jaime White (2015-16: 59.5ppg; 2016-17: 59.9 ppg; 2014-15: 60.1 ppg).
KEEPING 'EM CLOSE
If you like close games, odds are good that you'll see one with the Bulldogs. Five of Fresno State's nine games have been nail-biters with the difference being four points or less. Unfortunately, the 'Dogs are 0-4 in games separated by three points or less.
Fresno State has twice missed a go-ahead attempts at the buzzer (Cal Poly, Sacramento State) and missed a third that would have tied a game (CSU Bakersfield).
The Bulldogs' lone close win was a 53-49 defeat of Delaware which saw the 'Dogs sink three free throws in the final seconds 10 seconds to seal the victory.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA
Northern Arizona is 4-5 on the season with wins over UC San Diego, California Baptist, Park University Gilbert and Southern Utah.
The Lumberjcks went 17-14 last season with a 12-8 mark in Big Sky play tying for fourth in the conference. NAU made the Big Sky Tournament championship game, falling to Montana State.
Northern Arizona was selected third in the Big Sky preseason media poll while checking in fourth in the preseason coaches' poll.
Sophomore guard Nyah Moran leads the Lumberjacks averaging 12.3 points per game with senior forward Montana Oltrogge corralling a team-high 6.7 rebounds.
Offensively, the Lumberjacks lead the Big Sky and rank 24th nationally in scoring offense (80.3 ppg). NAU also leads the Big Sky in rebounds per game (39.9) and are third in field goal percentage (43.2 percent).
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.