FRESNO, Calif. - Ryan McCarthy and the Fresno State women's basketball team earned their first Mountain West win of the 2025-26 season with a double-digit win over Wyoming on Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center, 53-35.
Fresno State grabs their first win over Wyoming since 2021 after a 17 point game from Danae Powell and 12 points from Avery Watkins. Powell played a perfect game shooting 6-of-6 from the field, 2-of-2 from beyond the arc and 3-of-3 from the foul line, along with seven rebounds.
How it happened
Fresno State opened on a steal and score from the hands of Jasia Gamble. Watkins joins in for the 4-0 run to open play. A five minute scoring drought from the field set the Bulldogs down until Emilia Long went to the line (2-2). Cowgirls' managed a narrow lead as the period winded down after three triples to close, 11-6.
Bulldogs' worked to close the gap with a 14-0 run that closed out the period and held Wyoming to a single basket. Four Bulldogs got in on the scoring with Gamble and Powell each putting up five points. Hedda Koenhe brought back the lead for the 'Dogs on a layup, 14-13. Fresno State's scoring run forced Wyoming to seven turnovers to shoot 0-of-7 from the field during the seven minute drought. Bulldogs upped the tempo continuing their run, to then hold a seven point lead over the Cowgirls, 20-13.
Watkins closed in to cut a quick run by Wyoming. A 7-0 run for Wyoming handed them back the lead, but didn't last long after back-to-back baskets from Koehne and Powell. Wyoming knotted it up for the final time of the day after a trip to the line, 30-30. Watkins dropped one more in from the line to a small lead, 31-30 to close.
Fresno State held a short lead over Wyoming to start the final ten, 31-30. 'Dogs dropped 12 points before Wyoming made their first basket of the fourth, sitting in a thirteen point deficit. Powell sank in her second three-pointer of the night to give the Bulldogs the largest lead of the game, 53-32. Wyoming finished with two made baskets to total six points in the final period. Fresno State outscored Wyoming, 22-6 in the final period with Powell logging eight points, Watkins on seven, Long with four and Dejssira Diawara with three.
Notable
Ryan McCarthy earns his Mountain West at Fresno State
Bulldogs improve to 7-6, 1-1 MW
Fresno State held Wyoming to less than than six points in two periods
Bulldogs outscored the Cowgirls 22-6 in the final period
Two 'Dogs finished in double-figures, Danae Powell and Avery Watkins with 17 points and 12 points, respectively.
This is the first win for Fresno State against Wyoming since 2021 and the first home win since 2020
Fresno State has not held Wyoming to less than 40 points since Jan. 25, 1997 in Fresno, 60-38
Bulldogs spent 30 minutes with the lead
Fresno State forced Wyoming to 25 turnovers
Up next: Fresno State (7-6, 1-1 MW) visits UNLV (7-5, 2-0 MW) for their first conference road game on Wednesday, Dec. 31 with tip-off set for 12 p.m. PT live on the Mountain West Network.