Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Tulsa
Women's Basketball Drops Another Heartbreaker
2/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - Tulsa scored the first five points in overtime and hung on late to escape with a 75-72 overtime victory over Fresno State at the North Gym. The loss drops FS to 10-15 (3-8 WAC) while the Golden Hurricane improves to 12-13 (8-4).
The loss is yet another in a line of close, heartbreaking defeats for the Fresno State in recent weeks. The Bulldogs fell to UTEP in the conference opener on Jan. 15 66-61 in overtime. Against Hawai'i on Feb. 5, the Bulldogs led by seven with eight minutes remaining but couldn't hold on late, losing 48-44 to the second place Rainbow Wahine. One week ago, FS had a three point lead on host SMU but fell in overtime to the WAC leading Mustangs 78-68.
Tonight, the Bulldogs were hurt by their free throw shooting. With Amanda Baker at the line with 1:15 remaining in regulation, Fresno State had a 66-65 lead. Baker missed the front end of the one-and-one, and Tulsa got the rebound. However, TU couldn't convert, and Baker again found herself at the line, this time with 24 seconds left. She made only one of two attempts, and the Golden Hurricane still had life, trailing 67-65.
After calling timeout, Tulsa's Kasie Pittman turned the ball over to Lindsay Logan, who was quickly fouled with 16 seconds left. Logan, a 77 percent free throw shooter, missed the front end of the one-and-one, and TU picked up the rebound. Denise Wagner found herself with the ball at the free throw line with six seconds left, but was fouled. Wagner made both free throws to tie the game at 67-67, and Tiffany Lewis' three-pointer as time expired was just off the mark.
Four Fresno State turnovers in the first two minutes of overtime helped Tulsa gain a 72-67 lead. The Bulldogs narrowed it to 72-70 on a Logan jumper with 1:36 left and tied it at 72-72 with Tiffany Simon made a turnaround 10-footer with 54 seconds left. But Tammy Goyne, who was 5 of 7 from three-point territory in the game, hit a 20-footer to put the Golden Hurricane up 75-72. A Logan three rimmed out with 16 seconds left, and TU was able to play keep-away for the remaining few seconds.
For Fresno State, Logan had another stellar game. She tied the Fresno State single-season record for assists by dishing out eight. She also scored 16 points, had five steals and two rebounds. The frontrunner for WAC Freshman of the Year should break the record against Rice on Saturday. Laura Garcia came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs with 18 points. Lewis added 15 while Baker chipped in 13.
Denise Wagner and Lila Osceola led Tulsa with 17 points each. Goyne had 16 while Carla Morrow finished with 14.
The Bulldogs are now 0-3 in overtime games this year and 1-8 since the 1993-94 season.
FS's final regular season home game is Saturday, when the Bulldogs take on the Rice Owls (16-8, 8-3 WAC). Game time is 7 p.m. at the North Gym.
