LAS VEGAS — The Fresno State women’s basketball team’s 14-year tenure in the Mountain West Conference ended at the hands of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. They finished with an overall record of 257-194.
Moving forward, Head Coach Ryan McCarthy and the Bulldogs have built a winning culture.
His mayhem-style of play was hinted at this season, but injuries to players like Ashlyn Rean before conference play started forced him to change how he was able to roll his lineup. Before Rean went down, she was one of the team’s leading scorers and the team’s leading rebounder.
Despite losing six of seven to the top four teams in the Mountain West, the Bulldogs were competitive in those games. Add in the upset-victory over the Boise State Broncos and the ‘Dogs proved they could hang with the elite competition.
McCarthy and the ‘Dogs also proved the conference wrong.
Picked to finish ninth this season, the Bulldogs firmly secured the No. 7 seed in the conference tournament, finishing higher than the Air Force Academy and the University of Wyoming.
Sure, there were times where the team struggled, but those stretches happen. When a team can only dress eight players, fatigue is going to set in.
The impact that the seniors had on this program puts the future in good hands. While they only had one season to leave a mark at Fresno State, they all showed future players what this program can be — a conference and national title contender.
This foundation that McCarthy has will go a long way. He’s proven he can retain players through the transfer portal era of college sports. His talented freshman Ava Marr has the tools to be a Mountain West Player of the Year contender in the future.
Emilia Long, who was questionably omitted from the All-Mountain West Team, and every single Bulldog led this team every night like true competitors and embodied the epitome of the Central Valley.
When McCarthy gets a roster to its full potential, the Pac-12 will truly feel the mayhem of these ‘Dogs. The Red Wave will flock to see this team. Fresno State absolutely nailed this hire.
