HONOLULU- Heading into overtime, Fresno State sat on the verge of their first win in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown. Fresno State fought through a rough and tumble five minutes of overtime to hold an eight point lead over UT Martin at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday afternoon, 75-66.
Bulldogs' were led by Mia Jacobs who collected her first 30 point game of the season and matched her career high of 31 points. Jacobs also added on her sixth double-double of the season and second at the tournament with 31 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman Danae Powell stood steady for the Bulldogs, shooting the tying free throw to go into overtime. Head coach Jaime White earns her 300th career win.
How it happened
Fresno State grabbed the first points of the game with a money shot from Mariah Elohim nearing the first minute of play. A Skyhawks 4-0 run leaves the 'Dogs trailing with less than five to go. Fresno State went scoreless for just under four minutes before Danae Powell slid in with a layup in the paint off a steal.
UT Martin continued their pace into the second quarter outscoring Fresno State 14-10. 'Dogs kept the score moving with Malaya LeSueur, Mia Jacobs and Rayna Williams giving the Bulldogs a 6-3 run in just two minutes. 'Dogs suffered three turnovers in the last four minutes that handed UT Martin their eight point lead to go into the half.
At the half, both teams matched from the line (7-of-10) shooting 70%. Fresno State also saw 13 points off of UT Martin's 12 turnovers.
Saga Ukkonen was the first on the basket taking a deep shot for three. Fresno State put forth their best offensive period, outscoring the Skyhawks 27-13. Bulldogs' connected for the basket with four shots from downtown in five minutes. Elohim, Fox and Jacobs tack on the 'Dogs second longest run of the game (9-0) all with three's.
Fresno State cut down UT Martin's eight point lead that started at the half to tie it off after Maria Konstantinidou went off on a solo 4-0 run and tied it 40-40 with 4:56 to go in the third. Konstantinidou started it all, sparking a 10-0 run that handed the Bulldogs a six point lead with under three minutes to go, 46-40. Mia Jacobs seized the lead for the first time since the first quarter off her usual three-point basket.
UT Martin looked to fight back on Fresno State's six point lead going into the final ten minutes. It all came down to the final two minutes of play. Skyhawks came within three after securing a layup off a Bulldog turnover. Another Bulldog turnover, inched the Skyhawks within one, 1:26 left. Skyhawks grabbed a short lead after jumper three until Danae Powell had her turn at the line. Powell struck gold going 2-for-2 at the charity stripe. Fresno State pulled off the defensive stops, forcing overtime.
In overtime, Fresno State outscored UT Martin 13-4. Jacobs owned all but one made basket from the field, Powell connected from the paint with a layup. Bulldogs' saw three trips to the foul line. The Skyhawks grabbed their only points of overtime from the foul line, each player going (2-2).
Notable
Fresno State improves 6-3 on the season
Mia Jacobs earned her sixth double-double of the season with 31 points and 14 rebounds
Mia Jacobs hits her first 30+ game of the season and second of her career
Seven 'Dogs got on the board
This is the first overtime game of the season
Jaime White earns her 300th career win
Fresno State finishes the Rainbow Wahine Showdown 1-2
Danae Powell matches her season and career high with 8 points
Fresno State 38% from the field, 29% from the three and 67% from the line
Mariah Elohim was the second Bulldog to finish in double figures (11)
Up Next: Fresno State (6-3) returns back home to the Save Mart Center to host UC Merced on Thursday, Dec. 5. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. PT streaming live on the Mountain West Network