Moriah Faulk gives Fresno State women plenty in reserve
Fresno State is slowly finding its rhythm as it passes the midway point of its nonconference schedule.
The Bulldogs (2-4) hope to speed up that cadence when Cal State Bakersfield (1-5) visits Save Mart Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“We’re hitting on all cylinders right now,” Bulldogs coach Jaime White said before Tuesday’s practice. “Our kids are identifying how they fit in the lineup.”
Among them, senior guard/forward Moriah Faulk, who has found a role as the team’s top option off the bench.
The fourth-year Bulldog, who transferred from UCLA after her freshman season, has two double-doubles through the team’s first six games – in tough losses to Pacific-12 Conference school Washington and then-No. 24 George Washington.
Faulk, who is hard to miss with her yellowish-green curly fade haircut, is averaging 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game. She’s second on the team in steals (eight) behind Shauqunna Collins’ 15.
She’s a smart player. She watches the game, comes in, knows what she needs to do and does it.
Fresno State coach Jaime White on key reserve Moriah Faulk
Faulk’s aggressiveness and versatile play on both ends of the court are why White continues to look her way.
“I feel like we can get more energy and even be better at times with Mo off the bench,” White said, noting that it’s similar to the role filled last season by then-senior Raven Fox.
Fox ended up leading the Bulldogs in steals (73) and assists (2.4 per game) and was Mountain West Conference Sixth Man of the Year, a feat Faulk would like to match.
Bakersfield is a good team. Their record does not depict how good they are and they do some things that bother us. We have to be on our game.
White on the Bulldogs’ upcoming opponent
“This being my last year has a lot to do with it,” Faulk said. “I’m just trying to help set our team up to be as successful as possible this year.”
On Bakersfield – The Roadrunners are coming off back-to-back losses against ranked opponents, losing by 19 to No. 2 South Carolina and 13 to No. 17 Arizona State. They are led by 6-foot-2 forward Batabe Zempare, who is averaging 14.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Ex-Edison High standout Brittany Sims is averaging 2.8 points and 7.8 minutes per game.
Angel Moreno: 559-441-6401, @anhelllll
Next up
FRESNO STATE VS. CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD
Wednesday: 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center
Records: Bulldogs 2-4, Roadrunners 1-5
Last meeting: Cal State Bakersfield won 80-60 on Nov. 30, 2014
Webcast/radio: Mountain West Network (www.themw.com)/KFPT (790 AM)
This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Moriah Faulk gives Fresno State women plenty in reserve."