FORT COLLINS, Colo.- Fresno State women's basketball drops to the Colorado Rams at Moby Arena in a Wednesday night match up, 69-56.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State held even through the first five minutes of play after Kylee Fox took a shot from downtown to make it within one. A scoring run by the Rams was shut down quickly by Tamia Stricklin off a second chance layup. Colorado's 5-0 run at the two minute mark became the final basket for both teams.
Franka Wittenberg brings the Bulldogs back to life snapping a six minute scoreless drought with a layup in the paint. Wittenberg kicks off a scoring run 6-0, with another layup followed by a second chance layup in paint by Fox. Mia Jacobs sets the tone to finish out the first half launching a three to break Colorado's 18 point lead. Keely Brown, Wittenberg and Sta. Maria scored the Bulldogs final points of the quarter seeing the game within five, the 'Dogs closest to the lead since the first quarter.
Wittenberg's layup started the Bulldogs on the right foot to break the Rams largest lead of the night at 18 to bring it down to within five to close out the first half. 'Dogs also held the Rams scoreless from the field for over five minutes, Colorado's last second three-pointer gave the extra push for an eight point lead into the half.
At the half, Fresno State shot 27% from the field, 16% from the three and 25% from the foul line. Bulldogs forced the Rams to seven turnovers to their four and 'Dogs saw six points from those (7) turnovers.
Bulldogs' were backed by the foul line earning their first points of the second half from the charity line going 4-of-4. First points from the field came off a 4-0 run by Jacobs in a jumper in the paint and hookshot. Stricklin led the 'Dogs the next few minutes getting Fresno State within ten off a jumper, 43-33. Colorado claimed another period outscoring the 'Dogs 23-14 working with a 17 point lead into the final ten.
Fresno State put up their highest period of points at 19. Bulldogs put on the strong defense on the Rams holding them scoreless for another two minutes. Maria Konstantinidou was on the basket first for the 'Dogs picking off another three. Fox started the teams largest run of the night, 8-0. Hot off the bench, Malaya LeSueur racked up four points in the run. Fresno State would make a strong push in the final minute thirty with Sta. Maria's layup and Fox's shot from the three, but Colorado held a strong double-digit lead into the final seconds.
Colorado was led by McKenna Holfschild, who earned 2,000 career points tonight.
NOTES
Fresno State drops to 4-7 and 2-7 on the road
Largest Run of the night for the Bulldogs 8-0
Team Highs: PTS(Mia Jacobs, 13) REB (Tamia Stricklin, 14) AST (Kylee Fox, 4)
Fresno State saw more points off turnovers (13-to-11), the bench (21-to-8) and matched even in the paint (24-to-24)
Fresno State once again forced the Rams to 10 turnovers
As a team the Bulldogs shot 32% from the field, 19% from the three and 66% from the foul line
Two Bulldogs scored in double figures: Mia Jacobs (13) and Kylee Fox (12)
Fresno State is now 1-6 when an opponent shoots 50% or better from the field