FRESNO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Fresno State women’s basketball team used a dominant first half and a sharp-shooting performance from beyond the arc to secure an 81-62 victory over Chicago State on Saturday night at Save Mart Center.

The Bulldogs, who improved to 5-5, built a commanding lead early and never looked back, handing the visiting Cougars their ninth consecutive loss and dropping their record to 1-9.

The most critical stretch of the game came in the opening quarter, where Fresno State established a tone of control that Chicago State could never overcome. The Bulldogs raced out to a 20-6 lead after the first 10 minutes, capitalizing on a combination of stifling defense and efficient offense. Chicago State struggled immensely from the field during the period, managing just a single field goal in the first six and a half minutes as Fresno State’s defense forced a series of turnovers and contested shots.

This early cushion proved insurmountable. While the Cougars showed increased offensive life as the game progressed, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter, they spent the entire night laboring to close a gap that ballooned to 23 points by halftime. Fresno State led 45-18 at the intermission, having outscored Chicago State 25-12 in the second quarter.

The statistical story of the game was written from the three-point line. Fresno State connected on 12 of 27 attempts from deep, a 44.4 percent clip that consistently stifled any momentum Chicago State tried to build. In contrast, the Cougars managed only 3 of 9 from long range. The Bulldogs’ offensive efficiency was stark, scoring 81 points on 71 possessions for an offensive rating of 113.9, while Chicago State posted a rating of just 86.5, scoring 62 points on 72 trips.

Fresno State’s backcourt duo of Ava Marr and Danae Powell led the charge. Marr, a sophomore from Brier, Washington, poured in a game-high 20 points, knocking down four three-pointers. Powell, a Las Vegas native, orchestrated the offense with 15 points and a game-high seven assists. Forward Jaisa Gamble of San Bruno added 12 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes.

For Chicago State, Tally Williams of Queens, New York, was the only Cougar to reach double figures, finishing with 11 points. Brianna Hill of Chicago added nine points. The Cougars were hampered by 19 missed free throws, shooting 19 of 33 from the line, and were outrebounded 17-7 on the offensive glass, leading to numerous second-chance opportunities for the Bulldogs.

Fresno State, which entered the game with a 97.2 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, also forced 18 Chicago State turnovers while committing 13 of their own. The Bulldogs’ ball movement resulted in 17 assists on 30 made field goals.

A crowd of 1,347 watched as Fresno State snapped a two-game skid and evened its season record. Chicago State, which has not won since its season opener, continues a challenging road stretch with a game at Arizona on Monday.

The Bulldogs will next host San Diego State on Wednesday, while Chicago State travels to face Utah Tech.