Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Close Regular Season with 79-62 loss
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
February 27, 1999
Fresno, Calif. - The Fresno State Bulldogs closed out the 1998-99 regular season with a 79-62 loss to WAC foe Hawaii. The loss dropped the 'Dogs to 9-18 overall, 4-10 in the WAC. Hawaii improved to 17-9, 9-5 in conference play.
The 'Dogs jumped out to an early lead, ahead 13-5 with 14 minutes left in the first half. Hawaii slowly came back to take a 29-18 lead at the 9:30 mark on a baseline drive by guard BJ Itoman. Itoman finished the night with a game-high 29 points, including an 8-for-11 performance at the free thow line. A three-point play by Tiffany Lewis brought Fresno State to within 6, 34-40, but the Rainbow Wahine took a 47-34 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
Hawaii ran out to as much as a 17 point lead early in the second half, but a 5-0 run by the 'Dogs, capped by a layup by Danielle Graham, made the score 41-51 with 13 minutes left. Hawaii continued to keep at least a ten point cushion until 4:32 when a jumper by Laura Paukert brought the Bulldogs to within nine, 65-56. Hawaii answered back by scoring five unanswered points in a little over a minute to put Fresno State away for good. For the game the Rainbows shot 56 percent compared to just 40 percent by the Bulldogs. Tiffany Lewis had her 12th double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Other 'Dogs in double figures were Connie Krueger with 10 points, and Amanda Baker with 15.
Fresno State will now travel to Las Vegas to face Mountain Division third seed Rice on Monday in a first round game at the WAC tournament. The game is set for 6 p.m at the Thomas and Mack Arena.
