Game 16: Fresno State (7-8, 0-2 MW) vs. UNLV (12-2, 2-0 MW)
Jan. 5, 2022 • 6 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center
TV/ONLINE: Mountain West Network (PxP: Matt Norville / Analyst: Taylor Martinez)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (PxP: Matt Norville / Analyst: Taylor Martinez)
LIVE: BulldogsLive.com
LAST MEETING: UNLV 69-59 in Las Vegas, Nev. on Feb. 16, 2022
SERIES HISTORY: Tied at 22-22
Game 17: Fresno State (7-8, 0-2 MW) vs. San Jose State (2-11, 0-2 MW)
Jan. 7, 2022 • 2 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center
TV/ONLINE: CW59 / Mountain West Network (PxP: Ralph Wood / Analyst: Amy Finch)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (PxP: Matt Norville / Analyst: Taylor Martinez)
LIVE: BulldogsLive.com
LAST MEETING: Fresno State 87-74 in Fresno, Calif. on Jan. 15, 2022
SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads 62-23
BULLDOG BONES
After playing its first two conference games on the road for just the second time since joining the Mountain West, Fresno State returns home for a three-game homestand beginning with preseason favorite UNLV.
Six of Fresno State's seven wins this season have come at the Save Mart Center.
While the Bulldogs are 0-2 in league play, the Lady Rebels are 2-0. Both teams faced Colorado State and Wyoming last week but the 'Dogs faced both on the road at elevation while UNLV played them in Las Vegas.
UNLV won its two games by a combined nine points while Fresno State lost by a combined 11 points.
Ten of the Bulldogs' 15 games have been separated by nine points or less though six of their eight losses have been by six points or less.
The 'Dogs have held 11 opponents below their season averages with seven of those being held more than 10 points below their average.
SHE'S BACK
Out for the first six weeks of the season, fifth-year senior Imani Lacy returned to the court on Dec. 20 at then-No. 11 UCLA. A familiar face in the Mountain West after playing her first two years at Nevada and last season with Fresno State, Lacy was a difference for the 'Dogs late last year after returning from nagging injuries, averaging 10.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game during the final six games.
• In her return against the Bruins, Lacy had 12 points, two rebounds and a block and an assist. Two games later, the Fresno native dropped 15 points at Wyoming, scoring 13 of those in the final half hour, hitting buckets that got the 'Dogs to both overtime and a second overtime.
Making just three 3-pointers last season, Lacy already has three in three games (3-of-8).
SETTLED IN
For four years, Fresno State had been familiar with Amaya West during her days playing for Nevada. Now with the Bulldogs, West's role has changed, looking to be more of a scorer in her final collegiate season. Struggling to find her shot through the first seven games, shooting 18-of-63 (28.6%), those appear to be a part of the past as West has begun to settle in, scoring in double figures the following five games. That run has included the three highest scoring games of her career.
With nine double figure games, West is currently 10thin the Mountain West, averaging 11.9 points per game.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
With the Bulldogs' top three scorers gone from last season, Yanina Todorova has taken a big step forward in her final year. The fifth-year senior from Bulgaria is averaging 12.6 points per game, eighth in the Mountain West. It is 8.1 points above the 4.5 she averaged in her first two seasons at Fresno State.
Todorova has a pair of 20-point games this season including a career-high 26 points versus CSU Bakersfield and 21 last weekend at Wyoming.
Todorova is tied for the team lead in double figures scoring games with nine.
The senior earned the first MW Player of the Week honor of her career on Dec. 19 after recording her second career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds against Utah Valley.
SCOUTING UNLV
UNLV is off to a 12-2 start to the season with a 2-0 mark in the Mountain West.
The Rebels have won three in a row and opened MW play last week with a pair of wins at home against Wyoming and Colorado State in overtime.
UNLV was picked to win the conference in the MW preseason poll after winning both the MW regular season and tournament titles last season finishing with a 26-7 overall record.
The Rebels lead the MW in free throws made (15.4) & offensive rebounds per game (13.8) and check in second in assist/turnover ratio (1.21), assists per game (15.4), rebounds per game (40.1) and scoring offense (78.6).
Junior center Desi-Rae Young was named the MW Preseason Player of the Year after being named the MW Player of the Year last season. She currently ranks second in the MW in both points per game (17.8) and rebounds per game (9.4).
SCOUTING SAN JOSE STATE
San Jose State is 2-11 this season and will host Air Force on Thursday before coming to Fresno on Saturday,
The Spartans opened MW play on the road last week falling to Nevada and Boise State.
SJSU was picked 10th in the MW preseason poll and went 5-25 last season with a 2-16 mark in the MW to finish 11th.
The Spartans are fourth in the MW in steals per game (9.8) and are sixth in scoring defense (65.5).
Senior guard Jada Holland tops the Spartans in points per game (10.2) while sophomore forward Marisa Davis-Jones leads the team with 6.2 rebounds per game.