WESTWEGO, LA - Fresno State women's basketball team grabs back-to-back wins at the Big Easy Classic with a win over Louisiana-Lafayette at the Alario Center on Saturday afternoon. Bulldogs had a handful of career and season highs that led the to 61-48 win over the Ragin' Cajuns.
Emilia Long hit a new season-high 22 points with a 5-of-5 appearance at the charity line, while hitting her third game with five assists. Hedda Koehne wasn't far behind on her first double-double this season with 10 points and a new career-high 14 boards. Ava Marr matched her career high three 3PFGM.
How it happened
Long set the tone early to start the game with seven points after shooting 3-of-3 from the field and sinking in the first three of the day. Avery Watkins started the first scoring run for the 'Dogs on back-to-back baskets and closed out by a layup from Long. Fresno State continued to make use on another 6-0 run fueled by Jasia Gamble and Danae Powell. The first set of three's came quickly by Long and Marr. Louisiana hit one right back to sit within six, 23-17.
Koehne saw high scoring action with six points in the period. Marr hit her next triple of the day. Bulldogs missed action from the basket the final two minutes allowing the Ragin' Cajuns to chip away on a 4-0 run. Louisiana sat within a tight margin of Fresno State to close the first half, 34-30.
A 4-0 run in the opening five minutes of the second half by Louisiana put them within a possession of the lead. Building off that run with a 7-0 spurt Louisiana took the lead, 41-38. 'Dogs bit back to tie the game as Gamble sank in a shot from downtown. Gamble triggered a scoring run for the Bulldogs making 9-1 run to close out, 47-42.
Louisiana was held to six points as the 'Dogs held them scoreless from the field for over eight minutes. The final five minutes were explosive as Fresno State sparked their longest run of the game, 9-0. Koehne kicked it off the run that featured Marr's third three-pointer of the night and Long's four point contribution. Long owned the teams final seven points to mark a new season-high 22 points.
Notable
Fresno State improves to 5-3 on the season and 2-3 on the road
Fresno State is 2-0 in neutral site games
Hedda Koehne (10) and Emilia Long (22) finish the day in double-digits
Emilia Long hits a new season-high 22 points - for her second 20+ point game this season
Hedda Koehne grabs her first double-double this season with 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds
Koehne is the second Bulldog this season to hit a double-double
Ava Marr led the team in made three-point field goals with three, shooting 60% (3-of-5)
Fresno State was a solid 8-of-8 from the foul line and 45% from the field (24-of-53)
Fresno State held Louisiana to six points in the final period
Up next: Fresno State (5-3) returns home to the Save Mart Center to host Pepperdine (4-2) on Saturday, Dec. 6 with tip-off set for 5 p.m. PT with coverage streaming live on the Mountain West Network.