USAFA ACADEMY, Colo.- Fresno State women's basketball earns their third road win of the season and closes out the season series 2-0 against the Air Force Falcons in Colorado on Wednesday night at Clune Arena, 74-68.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Taking the lead from the jump, Bulldogs started play on a 5-2 run finishing with a three-pointer from Keely Brown. Another three by Franka Wittenberg saw the edge of their first double-digit lead in the first. In their largest run of the night, 7-0, Franka Wittenberg got the Bulldogs started with a shot from downtown, Sydney Dethman's second chance layup and Wittenberg drove it home with another layup to close out.
It was steady play from both sides of the court with the Falcons matching pace with the Bulldogs in the opening two minutes, with a Bulldogs 7-6 run. The Falcons only shots came from the field (61%). Deajanae Harvey and Tamia Strciklin get the 'Dogs first points on the run with two layups and a three. Kylee Fox would make for back-to-back threes for Fresno State.Taija Sta. Maria beats the buzzer with a layup in the paint to close the first ten with another double-digit lead.
Fresno State rolls into the half with an eleven point lead shooting 65% from the field (15-of-23), 66% from the three (4-of-6) and 100% from the foul line (6-of-6).
Mia Jacobs would get in two baskets before the Falcons held the Bulldogs scoreless from the field for the next five minutes. Falcons began to break an eleven point lead to as close as four. Dethman breaks the scoring drought with a driving layup to earn herself double figures. Flipping the switch, the last two minutes belonged to Fresno State as they built their largest lead of the night at 13 points with a minute to go. Falcons took one last shot from the field, making the basket.
Bulldogs needed to put in the extra work in the final ten. The Falcons were putting the pressure on inching in on the lead. Air Force worked with small 4-0 runs to bring the game within three. Bulldogs cling to a small lead in the final three minutes, only scoring five points from the field and suffering a four minute scoring drought. Tamia Stricklin comes in clutch to make a game changing shot connecting with the basket for three. Both teams take turns at the foul line, each seeing two trips to the charity line within seconds of each other. Harvey calls game after a steal and a trip to the line (2-of-2).
NOTES
Fresno State earns their third road win of the season
Fresno State moves up to 5-8 in conference play and 3-7 on the road
Bulldogs see their first win at Air Force since Feb. 20, 2019 (77-70) and snap a three game losing streak at the Academy
Fresno State shot their highest percentage from the field 60% (24-of-40), the three 62% (5-of-8) and the foul line 95% (21-of-22) this season
Fresno State is backing scoring in the 70 points or more since Feb. 3 at Utah State
Bulldogs are now 9-1 when three or more players score in double-figures
Last time the Bulldogs put up 40 point in a half was against Utah State on Jan. 13
Three Bulldogs saw double-digits Mia Jacobs (15), Sydney Dethman (14), and Deajanae Harvey (11)
Taija Sta. Maria locks in on a 100 assist as a Bulldog this season
Team highs: Points (Mia Jacobs, 15) Rebounds ( Mia Jacobs, 8) Assists (Tamia Stricklin & Taija Sta. Maria, 3)
Fresno State saw their most turnovers (21) since their first meeting with the Falcons on Dec. 30 (22 TO)
UP NEXT:
Fresno State returns to the Save Mart Center to host San Jose State on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. PT streaming on the Mountain West Network.