LAS VEGAS - Fresno State women's basketball advances to the quarterfinal game after holding off San Jose State in the final minutes of the opening round of the Mountain West Championships on Sunday night at the Thomas and Mack Center, 67-62.
On 50% from the field (6-of-12), Mariah Elohim logged 15 points and three 3PFGM to lead the team in scoring. Mia Jacobs adds on to her impressive number of double-doubles to hit No. 18 of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
How it Happened
Elohim took control with a solo 5-0 run. Jacobs opened her scoring with a three-point floater. Bulldogs hit a stump with a 2:33 field goal drought working into the final three minutes. Fresno State forced five turnovers on San Jose State in over two minutes, through the drought. Holly Griffiths added two more from the charity stripe. Spartans worked to get within three of the 'Dogs, 17-14.
Spartans found strong movement on the court with a 7-0 run to hold a four point lead over the Bulldogs. San Jose State got in five more, extending their lead to nine before Kylee Fox dropped in a jumper. Maria Konstantinidou built off the run with a jumper of her own. Fresno State overcame another scoring hurdle from the field (1-of-8). Saga Ukkonen's layup inched closer, added on by Sta. Maria's 1-of-2 time at the foul line. Sta. Maria's last second layup held the Bulldogs down by three going into the half, 29-26.
Fresno State got straight to work scoring a period high 22 points. The Bulldogs worked to get back their lead with nine points in the first five minutes opening the second half. 'Dogs saw five different scorers in the period with Jacobs on the lead for seven. On the longest scoring run of the night, 11-0, Jacobs nabbed five, Sta. Maria and Fox with two. A 4-4 run closed the third quarter on a four point separation, 48-44.
Elohim hit another 5-0 solo run to start the period. Ukkonen landed another deep three for the 'Dogs to edge a double digit lead. Nine points by the Spartans lowered that lead to four with three minutes to spare. Spartans Van Schaik's three tied it up once again, 57-57. Seven trips to the charity line was the only action on the court to close the opening round. Fresno State owned six of those seven trips for ten points (10-of-12).
Notable
Fresno State advances to the quarterfinal for the second consecutive season
Four Bulldogs finished in double digits - Mariah Elohim (15), Saga Ukkonen & Mia Jacobs (14), and Taija Sta. Maria (11)
Mia Jacobs earns her 18th double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds
Both teams held no larger than a nine point lead
Bulldogs scored 22 points in the third quarter
Fresno State has defeated San Jose State in all three meetings this season to hold a five game series advantage
Fresno State trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, becoming the largest come-from-behind win in a Mountain West tournament game all-time
This season, Fresno State starters are averaging 7.0 made threes per game, marking the fourth highest 3PM/per game average by a starting unit in a single MW season behind New Mexico (8.4 in 2021-22, 7.3 in 2020-21 & 7.1 in 2017-18)
Mia Jacobs is one of two players D1 players this season to have at least 500 points, 300 rebounds and 50 assists, along with Laura Ziegler (St. Joes)
Up Next: No. 6 Fresno State will face No. 3 Colorado State in the quarterfinal game of the Mountain West Championships on Monday. Mar. 10 at 7:30 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center.