Women’s basketball: Fresno State hosts Washington on Friday

The Fresno State women’s basketball team opens the toughest stretch of its nonconference season Friday when Washington of the Pacific-12 Conference visits Save Mart Center.

The Huskies, led by All-America candidate Kelsey Plum, are 2-0 and received votes in the USA Today preseason coaches’ poll heading into tipoff at 7 p.m.

Plum, a junior point guard rated the No. 10 player in the nation by ESPNW, is averaging 25.5 points and seven assists for Washington.

Fresno State (1-1) is coming off a 78-33 victory over Fresno Pacific on Tuesday. The Bulldogs, in their second season under coach Jaime White, are powered by Toni Smith (14.5 points per game) and Bego Faz Davalos (11 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks per game).

Washington and Fresno State have not met since 1986, when the Huskies won 70-64. Washington leads the series 5-1.

After the Huskies, George Washington, which is ranked Nos. 22 and 20 in the two major polls, comes to Fresno on Monday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center.

The Colonials (2-0) are led by Caira Washington, who averages 22 points and 9.5 rebounds a game.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Women’s basketball: Fresno State hosts Washington on Friday."