Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Rice in WAC Opener
1/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2001
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Game No. 14
The Bulldogs enter tonight's WAC opener off a second place finish in the Georgia Tech/Atlanta Northwest Marriott Holiday Classic. FS currently stands at 4-8. Rice, which won the WAC tournament and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, is 8-4 with losses in its last two games.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Rice
Rice leads the all-time series 7-2, including wins in the last six games. The Owls were a thorn in FS's side a year ago, defeating the Bulldogs three times. The third of the three victories came in the first round of the WAC tournament, a 65-47 win for the Owls, the eventual tournament champions. Amanda Baker and Tiffany Lewis both had 13 points in the loss. FS is searching for its first victory over Rice since the 1996-97 season.
Fresno State in WAC Openers
The Bulldogs are 15-12 in conference openers and 2-5 in WAC openers. Under head coach Britt King, Fresno State is 1-1 in conference openers, defeating San Jose State 76-48 in 1999 before falling at UTEP 66-61 in overtime a year ago. FS has won its last two home conference openers.
King Nearing 100
Britt King is on the doorstep of a milestone. Should the Bulldogs win tonight and Sunday against UTEP, the fourth-year Fresno State head coach will garner her 100th career victory. Bob Spencer (1981-93) is the only other Fresno State head coach to rack up their 100th career victory while at FS. Spencer had 198 in his 12 years at the helm of the Bulldogs.
Logan Just Keeps Impressing
Lindsay Logan just keeps getting more and more impressive as each game goes by. The sophomore was outstanding in Fresno State's two games at Georgia Tech, scoring 37 points in two games to capture all-tournament honors. This comes two weeks after Logan single-handedly carried the Bulldogs to victory against Boise State, scoring 18 of her 21 points in the second half, including eight of FS's final 10. While she leads Fresno State with a 16.7 scoring average, perhaps the most impressive statistic Logan owns is the 5.1 assists average she has achieved despite playing the two-guard position. After leading the WAC and setting an FS record with 192 assists last year as a point guard, Logan was switched to the two-guard this year to further take advantage of her scoring ability. Nonetheless, she is still on pace to record 143 assists this year, which would be the sixth most in program history.
Scouting Rice
The Owls come into tonight's game 8-4 but have lost their last two in a row. They were picked to finish fourth in the WAC preseason coaches' poll. Rice is led by freshman guard Kate Beckler, who has come off the bench in 11 of 12 games to post a 10.7 scoring average, best on the squad. Also performing well has been the team's lone senior, forward Kenya Tuttle, who has an 8.7 rebound average. The Owls are not exactly shooting the lights out from the field, coming into tonight's contest second-to-last in the conference with a .359 field goal percentage. However, Rice does shoot well from three-point territory, hitting on 33 percent of its attempts from beyond the arc. The Owls have not shied away from tough competition this season, with their losses coming to No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 8 Louisiana Tech, No. 12 Texas Tech and Arizona, which is receiving votes in this week's poll. Rice is coached by Cristy McKinney, who has a 151 career record in nine years and a 124-90 record at Rice in seven years.
Rice Recent Action
Rice had a difficult time last week with two of the better teams in the nation. The Owls fell Dec. 28 to No. 12 Texas Tech 63-56. Kenya Tuttle led Rice with 16 points and nine rebounds, but 33 percent shooting and a 1-of-8 night from beyond the arc doomed the Owls. On Sunday at No. 3 Notre Dame, Rice had a night it would rather forget in an 80-40 loss. The Fighting Irish came out on fire, jumping to a 40-17 lead at half. Meanwhile, Rice struggled mightily, shooting only 23 percent, including 4-of-22 from three-point range. The Owls were also outrebounded 58-36.
Common Opponents
Fresno State and Rice have two common opponents - Arizona and New Mexico State. The Bulldogs struggled against both, losing convincingly to UA 92-55 in the Arizona Basketball Classic on Dec. 10. Against NMSU, the Aggies went on an 18-0 run to end the game and defeat the Bulldogs 75-57. Rice also lost to the Wildcats, falling in a close game 84-71. The Owls defeated New Mexico State 75-67.
Fresno State Recent Action
Fresno State went 1-1 in the Georgia Tech/Atlanta Northwest Marriott Holiday Classic on Dec. 29-30. The Bulldogs kicked off the tournament with a dramatic 72-69 victory over Alabama State. Lindsay Logan hit a 14-footer with 19 seconds left to give FS a 70-69 lead. Omelogo Udeze had two free throws in the closing seconds to seal the victory. Logan was outstanding, scoring 22 points to pace the Bulldogs. One day later in the championship game, Georgia Tech proved to be too much for Fresno State, which hurt itself by shooting only 33 percent in the second half while committing 23 turnovers in the game. The Ramblin' Wreck had four players in double figures, led by Sonja Mallory's career-high 25.
Scheduling Oddities
Fresno State's game with Rice kicks off the WAC season for both teams. A quirky 2000-01 WAC schedule sees the Bulldogs and Owls not only opening up the conference schedule against each other but closing it as well, playing the regular season finale for both teams March 3. In another oddity, Fresno State will finish the season series with UTEP, Hawai'i, San Jose State and SMU before playing Tulsa once.
It's Raining Threes
Fresno State made a combined 11 three-pointers against Alabama State and Georgia Tech, meaning the Bulldogs have now made at least one three-pointer in 41 consecutive games. The last time FS did not make a three in a game was March 1, 1998, a 78-48 loss to Rice in the WAC tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. In addition, guard Lindsay Logan has made at least one three in each game this season, including a 6-for-13 performance in a victory against Alabama State on Dec. 29.
Simon Says
Tiffany Simon has been stellar for Fresno State the entire season. After finishing last season strong, the sophomore played solidly through the non-conference season and is second on the team in scoring with an 11.2 average. She has scored in double figures in nine of the 12 games and is one of only two Bulldogs to have started in every game. Against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Simon led Fresno State with 16 points and six rebounds.
So Good ... So Young
Despite defenses being geared to stop her, Lindsay Logan continues to post eye-popping numbers. The sophomore guard had a very tough act to follow after a freshman season which saw her dish out a FS record 192 assists en route to becoming the first rookie in WAC history to lead that category. Her performance made her a member of the 1999-00 WAC All-Newcomer team. Logan's numbers this year have her headed for more postseason conference awards. She is averaging 16.7 points per game, fifth-best in the WAC. Logan's most impressive performance this year may have come Dec. 16 at Boise State, a game in which she scored 21 points and took over in the second half, scoring 18. In addition, Logan scored eight of the Bulldogs' final 10 points, including two free throws with 1.2 seconds left which helped seal the 66-62 victory. In addition, she hit the game-winning shot with 19 seconds left to help beat Alabama State 72-69. Although she moved to the two-guard position and has been concentrating more on scoring in 2000-01, she hasn't forgotten about passing the ball. Logan currently sits atop the WAC in assists with a 5.1 average. She is also slowly creeping up the Fresno State career assists list and needs only 19 more to enter the all-time top 10 despite having played only 41 games in her career. Following is where Logan finished last year and she stands on the career assists list:
FRESNO STATE SINGLE-SEASON ASSISTS Name Year GP Asts1. Lindsay Logan 1999-00 29 1922. Wendy Martell 1996-87 29 1693. Wendy Martell 1985-86 30 1674. Yannick Souvre 1989-90 33 1665. Jessie Farias 1998-99 28 165Double Trouble
FRESNO STATE CAREER ASSISTS Name Year GP Asts Needs to Pass 6. Tamika Louis 1995-98 81 289 37 7. Shannon McGee 1984-87 118 285 32 8. Staci Oddo 1992-96 110 282 30 9. Chris Wycinowsky 1982-85 105 273 2110. Michele Anderson 1994-97 77 271 19------------------------------------------------------- Lindsay Logan 1999-00 41 259
Lindsay Logan's first 12 games have been fabulous. She is averaging 16.7 points per game and has scored in double figures in each of Fresno State's contests, including a 27-point effort against Bowling Green in the Arizona Basketball Classic and a 22-point night in a victory over Alabama State. The Fresno State record for double figure scoring games to begin a season is 23, set by Yvette Roberts in the 1986-87 season. The sophomore guard has also hit a three-pointer in every game this season, including a career-high six against ASU.
Heave-Ho
In her freshman season, Lindsay Logan proved she was capable of hitting the three-pointer. In fact, Logan was so good she attempted 179, tying the Fresno State record for threes attempted in a single season. However, this year Logan has taken her three-point shooting to another stratosphere. Through 12 games, the sophomore has attempted 115 shots from beyond the arc and is on pace to destroy the record she tied last year. Should her pace continue, Logan will attempt 278 threes by the end of the regular season, 99 more than the program record. She is currently draining 3.17 three-pointers per game, tops in the WAC. Logan has made at least one three-pointer in all 12 games this season and in 35 of 41 games in her career.
All-Tournament, All the Time
In being named to the all-tournament team of the Georgia Tech/Atlanta NW Marriott Holiday Classic, Lindsay Logan has now received such honors in all three non-conference tournaments in which Fresno State has played this season. Logan also received all-tournament honors in the Arizona Basketball Classic and the Fresno State Classic, in which she was named tournament MVP.
"O"-K
A big question coming into the 2000-01 campaign was who would fill the rebounding void left by Tiffany Lewis, one of the best on the boards in program history. So far, that player has been Omelogo Udeze. The sophomore forward has posted a 7.8 average through 12 games, including a career-high 14 at Arizona on Dec. 10 and 13 against Alabama State on Dec. 29.
Injury Report
Freshman guard/forward Chantea Fleming has missed the last three games with shin splints in her left leg. Although she did not dress against Alabama State, she was available to play against Georgia Tech. The Chino Hills, Calif., native is expected to be in uniform for tonight's game. Fleming is tops on the team among freshmen with a 4.8 points and 4.1 per game average. She has started three games.
The Magic Number
Sixty-five has proven to be the magic number for Fresno State thus far. All four of its wins have come when the team scores more than 65. Conversely, the Bulldogs are 0-7 when they don't score more than 65.
Noting Last Week's Action
- Lindsay Logan scored in double figures in both games and has now scored at least 10 points 12 times in 12 games. The sophomore is tops on the squad with a 16.7 average.
- Omelogo Udeze put up another solid performance, scoring 15 points and adding five rebounds. It marked the fourth game in a row the sophomore forward scoring in double figures. Udeze is second on the squad with a 11.2 scoring average.
- Saint Mary's shot 48 percent from the floor compared to 39 for Fresno State. The Bulldogs' record is 0-6 this year when their opponent shoots for a higher percentage.
- Logan made nine three-pointers, meaning she has made a three in every game this season and in 35 of her 41 career games.
- The Bulldogs scored 72 points in a victory over Alabama State, only the second time this season they scored more than 67 points in a game.
- Omelogo Udeze had a team-high 13 rebounds against Alabama State and has led FS in rebounding in seven of its 12 contests.
- Tiffany Simon scored in double figures in both games and for the ninth time in 12 contests.
- Chantea Fleming missed both games with shin splints.
- Mindy Clark has started the last five games in a row at center and is averaging 5.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
- Fresno State outscored Alabama State and won and was outscored by Georgia Tech and lost. On the season, the Bulldogs are 4-0 when outscoring their opponent and 0-8 when they do not.
- FS is 2-2 when committing less than 20 turnovers and 2-6 when turning the ball over more than 20 times. The Bulldogs are averaging 23.3 turnovers per game.
