FRESNO STATE (12-14, 5-8 MW) VS SAN JOSE STATE (6-18, 1-11 MW)
Sat. Feb. 17, 2024 | 2 p.m. PT | Save Mart Center | Mountain West Network | Fresno, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Watch: Mountain West Network
Stats: BulldogsLive.com
Listen: Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play: Matt Norville
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State women's basketball closes out the week in a season series matchup with the San Jose Spartans on Saturday, Feb. 17th at the Save Mart Center. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. PT streaming on the Mountain West Network.
BULLDOG BONES
Fresno State moves to 5-8 in conference play
Bulldogs earned their third true road win of the season
Fresno State closes the week shooting 39% from the field, 32% from the three and 71% from the foul line
Against the Falcons, Fresno State saw their highest number of made shots from the foul line (21-of-22) since Fresno Pacific (22-of-24)
Bulldogs are...
7-0 when shooting better than opponent
9-2 when leading at half
9-3 when scoring 70 or more points
8-1 when three or more players score in double figures
Taija Sta. Maria logged in 100 career assist at Air Force
Keely Brown is 10 points away from reaching 400 career points as a Bulldog
No. 9 Fresno State will host No. 10 San Jose State
Fresno State closed out the season series with Air Force, 2-0
Fresno State will play four more games before the Mountain West Tournament begins on March 3, 2024 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
Taija Sta. Maria was tabbed as MW Freshman of the Week, her third honor this season (Feb. 12)
With the win a second against Utah State, Fresno State has already passed its win total and conference win total from a season ago. (11-12, 4-6 MW) *As of Feb. 3
Three Bulldogs have been tabbed with Mountain West honors so far this season, Taija Sta. Maria (3x, Freshman of the Week, Nov. 13, Dec. 11 & Feb. 12), Kylee Fox (Freshman of the Week, Nov. 11) and Mia Jacobs (Player of the Week, Dec. 26)
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State and San Jose State will meet for the 87th time in program history and the 42nd time in Fresno. Fresno State continues to lead the all-time series 63-23 and lead the home series 32-9. In the last ten meetings Fresno State has fallen to the Spartans twice (2019, 2023).
Last time out, Bulldogs make the trip up north to face the Spartans in the conference road opener. At San Jose, Fresno State saw their first true road win of the season. Dejanae Harvey's steal in the final five seconds closed any Spartan chance of a win.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
San Jose State has only seen one conference win against Utah State,
Spartans make the trip to Fresno on a ten game losing streak
Jyah LoVett is one of three freshmen to be tabbed with MW Freshman of the Week honors 3x this season (Sta. Maria, Fresno) (Sullivan, Nevada)
San Jose comes into Saturday's match up with 54 ppg and shooting 39% from the field, 31% from the three and 72% from the foul line
Spartans probable line up features two new players who did not start against the Bulldogs last time out (Sydni Summers & Maya Anderson)
Amhyia Moreland has led the Spartans in scoring in two of the last three games.
HOT OFF THE BENCH
Fresno State's bench was a big support in the road win between the Falcons on Wednesday night. Two of the top three scorers from Bulldogs came off the bench, Deajanae Harvey (11) and Sydney Dethman (14). In five of the last six games the bench has been able to produce no less than 21 points per game.
Recording a season high 32 points from the bench against Air Force. Fresno State has out-shot their opponent from the bench in eight of the 13 conference games this season.
REDEMPTION MATCHUPS
With the end of the season near, Fresno State has four more games remaining in the season. Fresno State's final four opponents will be tough rematches. Bulldogs dropped the first meeting with the remaining four opponents and will be facing tough rematches, two of which will be on the road. Of the next four matches, Fresno State's closest chance for a potential win was at Nevada, as they fell by one in mid-January, 63-62.
BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS
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 in Dec. 30 (22 TO)