FRESNO, Calif. – Despite a 26-point outburst in the third quarter, Fresno State was outscored by seven during the final 10 minutes on Saturday to fall 66-61 to Boise State at the Save Mart Center. It was just the second time this season that the Bulldogs surrendered a fourth-quarter lead.
Amaya West (22) and Imani Lacy (17) combined for 39 of the Bulldogs' 61 points. Boise State put three in double figures led by Abby Muse's 15 points and 11 rebounds. Fresno State was outscored 27-11 in bench points as Bronco freshmen Tatum Thompson (13) and Natalie Pascoe (12) combined for 25.
How It Happened
Quick out of the gates, Fresno State opened a 9-4 lead on Boise State in the opening three-plus minutes. But that lead disappeared as the 'Dogs missed on their next 10 shots and made just one field goal during the final 6:48 of the first period as the Broncos finished on a 14-2 run. Following a pair of misses to start the second, Amaya West pulled the Bulldogs back within five at 19-14 at the 8:00-minute mark.
Fresno State cut the deficit down to three with four minutes to play. Looking to head into the half trailing by four, a scramble led to the 'Dogs out of position on rotation, leaving Boise State's Tatum Thompson open at the top of the key to give the Broncos a 27-20 lead at the break.
With just one 3-pointer in the first half, the Bulldogs turned the game around from deep in the third. West sank back-to-back triples in the opening 90 seconds to bring the 'Dogs back within one. Boise State countered with five unanswered but Imani Lacy ended that run and with a 3, kick-starting a two-minute 11-0 stretch that saw the Bulldogs take a 37-32 lead with 5:27 on the clock. Until Franka Wittenberg scored with 4:09 remaining, putting the 'Dogs up seven, Lacy and West combined to score Fresno State's first 19 points of the period.
The Broncos countered with back-to-back 3-pointers to start a 10-0 run and regain their lead. A pair of free throws from Keely Brown and turnover in the final seconds led to Fresno State taking a two-point advantage heading into the fourth following a banked in 3-pointer from Wittenberg at the buzzer.
That lead lasted less than three minutes as the Broncos hot-shooting late in the third continued into the fourth. An and-one in transition from Natalie Pascoe ended a 7-0 stretch for Boise State. While the Bulldogs remained close during the remainder of the contest, they were unable to regain the lead, shooting just 2-of-11 from the field during the final seven minutes.
Notes
Fresno State lost just its second game of the year when leading after three quarters (8-2).
Fresno State shot its lowest percentage from the field in conference play at 28.6 percent (18-of-63).
The Bulldogs posted their second-best assist-turnover ratio of the season at 1.38 (11-8). It was just their third game of the year over 1.0.
The 'Dogs recorded back-to-back games with double-digit assist totals for the first time since Dec. 20/29.
Fresno State lost its second game when scoring a season-high 26 points in a quarter (0-2).
Amaya West registered her third career 20-point game. All three have come this year.
West's 22 points are the second-most in a game in her career.
Imani Lacy scored a season-high 17 points.
Lacy corralled a team-high nine rebounds.
Next Up
Fresno State heads back out on the road on Thursday, facing conference-leader UNLV in Las Vegas, Nev. Tipoff at Cox Pavilion is set for 5 p.m. PT.