The Fresno State women’s basketball team lost at home 68-54 Saturday afternoon to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lady Rebels.
The depleted Bulldogs’ roster struggled to find consistent offense, shooting just 31% against the Lady Rebels and enduring numerous scoring droughts throughout the contest.
From the four-minute mark in the third quarter to the five-minute mark in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs failed to score. Against the Lady Rebels, it was the Bulldogs’ second straight game of playing with eight players, the minimum number of players teams are required to dress.
Bulldogs’ Head Coach Ryan McCarthy said that with his team as depleted as they are right now, lineups and game plans have to be shifted around to try to make things work.
“As a coach, it’s a nightmare, you gotta manage fouls and play people out of position,” McCarthy said. “We’re one of the best defensive teams in the country when we’re able to press, but at the end of the day, you’re kind of gassing your team.”
Senior guard Emilia Long recorded a double-double against the Lady Rebels, leading the Bulldogs in scoring with 14 points and 11 rebounds. She was the only Bulldog to score double-digit points.
The Lady Rebels defense made it difficult for the Bulldogs offense to come up with any sort of offense. Thanks in large part to their zone defense, the Lady Rebels forced 17 Bulldog turnovers.
“It’s their length that really bothers you,” McCarthy said. “They have very good athletes, but I think part of it is just a little bit of fatigue on our part. They’re very well coached and they do a good job.”
While the Bulldogs did outscore the Lady Rebels in the third quarter and cut the Lady Rebels’ double-digit lead to nine, the scoring drought the ‘Dogs went on to close the quarter was too much to overcome.
McCarthy said he believes fatigue was a major factor in the scoring droughts the team went through against the Lady Rebels.
Even though the season has been filled with ups and downs, McCarthy said his first season at Fresno State reminds him of his first season at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where a foundation had to be built, and adjustments had to be made on the fly.
McCarthy was also appreciative of his senior class this year, who he said helped lay the foundation for seasons to come.
“It started in a very similar place to where we’re at right now and what it’s shown me is we can do this,” McCarthy said.
The Bulldogs will wrap up the regular season on March 3 against the University of New Mexico Lobos before heading to the Mountain West Tournament starting on March 7.
