BERKELEY – Down to the final seconds, Fresno State was unable to get one of its last two shot attempts in the paint to fall as the Bulldogs dropped a 73-72 contest to Cal on Thursday afternoon at Haas Pavilion.
Haley Cavinder )24) and Hanna Cavinder (18) combined for 42 of Fresno State's 72 points. Wytalla chipped in a career-high 13 points.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs started the game slow, making just one of their first seven shot attempts in the opening six minutes as they found themselves down 15-5. With just over a minute left in the first, a 3-pointer from Hanna Cavincer, her first of the day, helped the Bulldogs close out the quarter on a 6-2 spurt.
The run continued into the second as back-to-back buckets from Imani Lacy were followed by a corner three from Daylee Dunn. Following a layup from Wytalla Motta with 6:29 on the clock, the Bulldogs had erased what was a 10-point deficit through a 15-5 run in just over five minutes as the score was knotted up at 23-all. Cal clung to a slim lead for the much of the remaining five minutes of the half.
Trailing by two at the break, Fresno State stormed out the locker room with seven unanswered in the first 96 seconds. First a 3-pointer from Todorova was followed by a steal and layup from Haley Cavinder before a transition lay-in for Hanna that gave the 'Dogs a 41-36 lead. The hot start helped the Bulldogs shoot a blistering 10-of-15 from the field as they led throughout the period. Aiding in Fresno State holding a four-point advantage at the end of the third were five Bear miscues that the 'Dogs turned into 12 points.
Like the first quarter, the Bulldogs started slow, not scoring until more than three minutes had passed. During that time, Jaydn Bush scored six of her 10 fourth-quarter points to give Cal a 62-60 lead. Hanna answered, scoring eight points in a 10-2 run that put the Bulldogs up 70-64 with 3:35 remaining. Fresno State, though, missed its next four shots while Cal hit its next three to take a one-point lead with under a minute to play. Haley answered with a jumper from just inside the arc. The Bears worked the shot clock, scoring late on its final possession with a dump off to Ugonne Onyiah under the basket with 15 seconds remaining. Fresno State had pair of chances in the final seconds around the basket from Motta and Lacy but neither were able to get the go-ahead to drop in.
Team Notes
Fresno State shot a season-high 45.2 percent from the field (28-of-62) against a Cal team which was holding opponents to 32.8 percent on the year (No. 22 in NCAA).
Fresno State knocked down eight 3-pointers, its most since Nov. 17. The 'Dogs shot 42.1 percent on the day (8-of-19).
The Bulldogs attempted 10 free throws, tying for its second lowest number of attempts this year.
Fresno State allowed a season-high 16 second chance points (16-2).
Player Notes
Haley Cavinder scored a game-high 24 points. It was her fourth 20-point game of the season.
Haley was 5-of-5 from the free throw line, extending her streak to 26 straight to start the year.
Hanna Cavinder had 18 points, her second-highest output of the season.
Hanna's five assists tied her season high.
Hanna's four made 3-pointers (4-of-6) matched her career high.
Wytalla Motta tied her career high with 13 points.
Up Next
The Bulldogs head east of the Bay to Moraga on Saturday as they face Saint Mary's. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. PT at University Credit Union Pavilion.