How about this Bulldogs buzzer beater: Fresno State’s Gamez sinks game-winner

With the game tied, time running out and the crowd counting down from 3 seconds, Fresno State guard Aly Gamez surveyed the defense, quickly drove to the basket then hoisted a shot.

She nailed it, hitting a game-winning layup as time expired to lift the Bulldogs women’s basketball team to a 55-53 win against Colorado State on Wednesday at the Save Mart Center, keeping Fresno State undefeated in Mountain West Conference play.

On the season, Gamez ranks fourth on the team in scoring with an average of 8.6 points per game.

So she might not have been the Bulldogs’ obvious choice to turn to in the clutch.

But on this night – with freshman twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder both struggling with their shot – the Bulldogs put the ball in Gamez’s hands following a timeout with 4 seconds remaining.

Gamez used a pick-and-roll screen from teammate Maddi Utti to keep her dribble going right, caused Colorado State’s defense to switch defenders and freed herself up just enough for a clean look at the basket.

Gamez’s right-handed shot banked off the glass, then dropped through the hoop just as the final buzzer went off.

And with that clutch play, Fresno State (15-4, 8-0 Mountain West) extended its win streak to seven games.

Gamez finished with 11 points and four assists. Utti added a team-high 12 points and 13 rebounds. And Kendyll Kinzer had 11 points.

The Cavinder twins, who combined to shoot 4 of 25 from the field, totaled just nine points in a rare off-the-mark performance.

Colorado State (9-10, 3-5) received a game-high 15 points from Jamie Bonnarens.

Just prior to Gamez’s buzzer beater, Bonnarens had sank a 3-pointer to tie the game at 53-53 with 4 seconds remaining.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a trip to face defending conference champion Boise State (14-6, 6-2) in a noon Pacific time tipoff Saturday.

This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 9:54 PM.