The beginning of the Ryan McCarthy era started with a victory at the Save Mart Center.

The Fresno State women’s basketball team took down the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds 87-38 in the Bulldogs’ season opener on Nov. 3.

McCarthy opted for an early press on defense as well as a hockey-style of substituting in the early going of the game. 

“It was a little bit of … experimenting tonight, just because we had a much shorter lineup and then we got into foul trouble,” McCarthy said. 

Despite being in foul trouble early into the game, forward Jaisa Gamble was able to make the most of her Fresno State debut. 

Gamble, who only played 18 minutes, finished with 18 points on 67% shooting from the field, adding multiple scores in the final minutes of the game.

“We just kind of were taking it to them in the end,” Gamble said. “You could tell they were, they kind of had enough and we hadn’t.”

One returner from last season’s team, Danae Powell, also finished with 18 points.

Powell shot 8-of-12 from the field, adding two 3-pointers, three assists and four steals.

“It gives me a lot of confidence, like in the system,” Powell said. “Like McCarthy, he also gives me a lot of confidence because we just keep things simple.”

Freshman Ava Marr played 26 minutes and scored 15 points in the season opener, including three 3-pointers.

Marr was getting looks on inbounds plays underneath the basket where the Bulldogs tried to get her the ball.

“So I believe that special teams or baseline out of bounds is worth 12 points every game,” McCarthy said. “Flip it either way and we spend around 10 minutes of practice on them because that can win or lose you a game.”

On the defensive end, the Bulldogs applied constant pressure to whoever was holding onto the ball. 

The ‘Dogs forced 37 turnovers and finished with 22 steals as a team. In the second quarter, the Sunbirds didn’t make a single basket. 

The Bulldogs will next head on the road to take on the California State University, Bakersfield Roadrunners on Nov. 7. Tip off for the Bulldogs’ second game of the season is set for 6:30 p.m.