Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Boise State
Women's Basketball Wins Nailbiter Over Boise State
12/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2000
BOISE, Idaho - Laura Garcia hit a driving, off-balance layup with 11.4 seconds left to break a deadlocked game and lift Fresno State to a 66-62 victory at BSU Pavilion. The win, which snaps the Bulldogs' four-game losing streak, improves FS's record to 3-6. BSU drops to 2-5.
The game was a nail-biter throughout, with neither team holding a lead larger than five points most of the game. Both teams shot over 50 percent in the first half with the Broncos holding a 33-30 advantage at the intermission. The opening 20 minutes featured five lead changes and three ties.
The Bulldogs went on a 10-3 run at the beginning of the second half to open things up a little, taking a 45-40 lead with 13:05 to go. But Boise State eventually tied it 48-48 with 7:06 to go. Fresno State was able to get the lead back however, and was up 62-55 with 2:05 remaining. Yet once again, the Broncos showed their fortitude. With 1:48 left, Abby Vaughan hit a three-pointer, cutting the advantage to 62-58. After a turnover, Kristen Crockett hit to free throws, making it 62-60. The Bulldogs couldn't convert at their end, and with 29 seconds left, Vaughan tied it at 62-62 with two free throws.
That's when Garcia came through with her heroics. The sophomore guard took the ball near the arc, drove through the lane and scooped in a left-handed layup with BSU center Andrea Swindall in her face. The basket made it 64-62, Fresno State.
Boise State still had a chance, however. But with four seconds remaining, Tawnya Gray's entry pass into the post was tipped off Swindall's fingers and out of bounds, giving FS the ball. After a BSU foul, Logan made two free throws to ice the victory.
Fresno State's defense was stellar throughout. The Bulldogs were able to keep Boise State's two weapons - Andrea Swindall and Crista Peterson - in check for the entire game. Swindall, a junior center who came in averaging 14.5 points per game, had only nine points while Peterson, who had a 12.8 scoring average coming in, was even less effective, scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds before fouling out with three minutes to go in the contest.
Conversely, the Bulldogs' big weapons were firing on all cylinders. Logan finished with a game-high 21 points while Omelogo Udeze had 14 points and nine rebounds. Tiffany Simon was also in double figures with 10.
For Boise State, Abby Vaughan was the lone player to score in double figures. She had 14. The Broncos shot only 31 percent in the second half.
Next up for the Bulldogs is a game against Saint Mary's on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the North Gym.
