Preview: Fresno State at Nevada Women’s Basketball

RENO, Nev. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in the Mountain West Conference will meet Saturday when the Fresno State Bulldogs visit the Nevada Wolf Pack at Lawlor Events Center.

Both squads enter the contest with sub-.500 overall records. Fresno State (8-9) is coming off an emphatic 86-56 home victory over Utah State on Wednesday. Nevada (7-10) looks to rebound from a 65-51 road loss at Grand Canyon the same day.

The matchup features a contrast in recent form. The Bulldogs have won two of their last three games, including the 30-point rout of Utah State where guard Emilia Long scored 21 points with five assists in 30 minutes. Long has been a consistent offensive catalyst, averaging 14.5 points per game over her last six contests and scoring 18 or more three times in that span.

Nevada had won three straight conference games prior to the Grand Canyon loss, a streak that included a 70-60 overtime win over Wyoming and a 70-61 victory at New Mexico. Guard Izzy Sullivan has led the Wolf Pack’s scoring efforts, averaging 11.0 points per game over the last six, with a high of 17 points in a win over Utah State.

Fresno State’s offense, when clicking, has shown high potential, scoring 83 points or more in three games this season. Nevada has relied more on its defense during its wins, holding opponents to 61 points or fewer in all three of its recent conference victories.

The Bulldogs hold a narrow edge in the all-time series, but the Wolf Pack will have home-court advantage in Reno. The game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 7 in Fresno.

Following this game, Fresno State travels to play Boise State on Jan. 21. Nevada will hit the road for its next contest, facing San Jose State on the same date.

Saturday’s tipoff is set for 2 p.m. PST at Lawlor Events Center.