Game 26: Fresno State (8-17, 1-11 MW) at UNLV (22-2, 12-0 MW)
Feb. 9, 2023 • 5 p.m. PT • Las Vegas, Nev. • Cox Pavilion
TV/ONLINE: Mountain West Network
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (PxP: Matt Norville)
LIVE: SidearmStats
LAST MEETING: UNLV 64-49 in Fresno, Calif. on Jan. 5, 2023
SERIES HISTORY: UNLV leads 23-22
Game 27: Fresno State (8-17, 1-11 MW) vs. Colorado State (15-8, 8-4 MW)
Feb. 11, 2023 • 4 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif. • Save Mart Center
TV/ONLINE: CW59 / Mountain West Network (PxP: Ralph Wood / Analyst: Jack Fertig & Amy Finch)
RADIO: Bulldog Sports Network (PxP: Matt Norville)
LIVE: BulldogsLive.com
LAST MEETING: Colorado State 64-58 in Fort Collins, Colo. on Dec. 29, 2022
SERIES HISTORY: Colorado State leads 18-14
BULLDOG BONES
Fresno State heads into the week facing two of the top teams in the Mountain West in UNLV (22-2, 12-0) and Colorado State (15-8, 8-4).
The Bulldogs have not seen the Lady Rebels and Rams since Game 3 and Game 1 of conference play. A six-point defeat in Fort Collins, in which the 'Dogs held a late lead, began MW play for Fresno State on Dec. 29. The following week, the 'Dogs were defeated by UNLV by 14, the Lady Rebels' fifth-closest game in conference.
During halftime of Saturday's game versus Colorado State, Fresno State will honor Bulldog great Yvette Roberts by retiring her jersey. She will be the second player in program history to have their jersey retired.
The 'Dogs own the third-best defense in the Mountain West, allowing 59.7 points per game.
Of the Bulldogs' 12 conference games, eight have been decided by 10 points or less, tied for the most of any team in the league (Wyoming).
HONORING A LEGEND
On Feb. 11, Fresno State will retire Yvette Roberts' No. 24 jersey at halftime. It will be the second jersey retired in the program's history.
Roberts' jersey will hang next to former teammate Wendy Martell's jersey.
During her 113-game career, the Fresno native averaged 15.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, just one of two players in program history to average at least 15 and 8 in a career.
For more than 30 years of Bulldog history, Roberts' 984 rebounds and 486 made free throws have stood atop their lists in the record book.
Her 1,778 points and 38 career double-doubles both rank No. 2.
Roberts holds the distinction of being the only Bulldog to be recognized as a three-time All-American according to the American Women's Sports Federation (1987, 1988, 1989).
RIGHT THERE
Seven of the Bulldogs' 11 losses in Mountain West play have been by seven points or less with one or two possessions late in games determining the outcome.
Of the Bulldogs 12 conference games, eight have been decided by 10 points or less, tied for the most of any team in the league (Air Force, Wyoming).
GIVE HER 20
In eight of Imani Lacy's 12 games, the senior has been on the court for at least 20 minutes. Those eight games have seen six of her double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 17 points last time out versus Boise State.
In games Lacy has played at least 20 minutes, the senior is averaging 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
TWO-WAY PLAYER
Fresno State coaches knew that Amaya West would bring defense when they brought her in after four years at Nevada. What the fifth-year senior has also brought to Fresno is an offensive game that wasn't used much in Reno. In her last season in the Mountain West, the Mesa, Ariz. native has shown off her full array, averaging 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per through 10 games.
West is one of three players in the league to rank in the Top 12 in both scoring (4th) and steals (12th).
SCOUTING UNLV
UNLV is 22-2 on the season leading the Mountain West with a 12-0 mark in the conference.
The Rebels have won 13 straight games dating back to a Dec. 18 loss at Oklahoma State.
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 field-goal percentage (.460), free throws made per game (14.25), scoring offense (78.4) and scoring margin (14.2).
Junior center Desi-Rae Young, the 2021-22 MW Player of the Year, leads the MW in double doubles (14), field goal percentage (59.1 percent), rebounds (251) and rebounds per game (10.5).
SCOUTING COLORADO E STATE
Colorado State checks in with a 15-8 mark on the season.
The Rams are 8-4 in the Mountain West sitting in a tie for second in the conference with San Diego State.
The Rams head to San Jose State on Thursday prior to coming to Fresno on Saturday.
CSU leads the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.80) and turnovers per game (8.4) while leading the MW in field-goal percentage defense (37.3), free-throw percentage (79.1) and three-point percentage (39.8).
Senior McKenna Hofschild leads the MW in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.15), assists (170), assists per game (7.4), points (497) and points per game (21.6).