MORAGA, Calif. – After scoring 39 points and shooting north of 45 percent in the opening half, Fresno State was held to 3-of-13 in third and outscored 25-7 resulting in an 81-69 defeat at Saint Mary's on Saturday afternoon at University Credit Union Pavilion. It was the Bulldogs' fifth consecutive loss away from home.
Haley Cavinder r had a game-high 26 points (10-of-20), her third game of 25 points or more this season. Hanna Cavinder added 15 points and five assists.
How It Happened
Both teams came out firing from deep with a combined seven 3-pointers falling in the opening five minutes. The 'Dogs began 4-of-5 from deep with all four coming from a different player. Following a 3-pointer from Haley Cavinder just over four minutes into the second quarter, the Bulldogs took the lead for the remainder of the half with the help of Tamia Stricklin who scored seven points in seven minutes of the bench.
Coming off its best shooting game of the season at Cal, Fresno State shot 46.9 percent in the opening half and was 7-of-14 from 3 to take a 39-35 advantage. That shooting fell off in the second half. Following a layup from Hanna Cavinder on its first possession of the third, Fresno State missed its next six attempts and watched Saint Mary's go on a 16-0 run to go up 53-41, turning a four-point deficit into a 53-41 lead in less than five minutes.
Following a jumper from Haley that ended the drought, the 'Dogs made just one of its next 16 field goals attempts. Trailing by 16 with less the five minutes left in regulation, a technical foul by Makena Mastora against Wytalla Motta helped put a charge into the Bulldogs. Haley scored 12 points during the next two-and-a-half minutes, and assisted on the another three to pull the 'Dogs back within eight with 1:59 on the clock, but that was close they would get. The Gaels put the game away by making 11 free throws in the final 90 seconds.
Team Notes
Fresno State has dropped its last five games away from home, four those have come on the current five-game road stretch which comes to an end on Dec. 11.
Fresno State allowed a season-high 53 rebounds and were outrebounded by 26.
The Bulldogs attempted a season-high 32 3-pointers (11-of-32). It was the third game they have made double digit 3-pointers but it was their first loss when doing so.
Player Notes
Haley Cavinder recorded her fifth 20-point game and third of 25 or more.
With nine rebounds, Haley led the Bulldogs in rebounding for the seventh time in eight games.
Hanna Cavinder scored 15 points, her eighth straight game in double figures to start the season.
Hanna tied her season high in assists with five.
Tamia Stricklin had season-high eight points, more than doubling her previous high of three.
Up Next
Fresno State will take a week off before returning to action in Bakersfield on Dec. 11. The game against the Roadrunners will be the fifth and final one of the Bulldogs' current road stretch.