Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Kicks Off Season Against Delaware State
11/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2001
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What's Coming Up
Fresno State opens up regular season play against Delaware State on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the North Gym.
What Just Happened
The Bulldogs played in their only exhibition game of the preseason, defeating The Hansens 85-82. Fresno State received a game-high 23 points from Lindsay Logan and 11 from Laura Garcia in the victory.
Fresno State All-Time in Season Openers
The Bulldogs are 14-16 all-time in season openers, with wins in the last two. Under Britt King, Fresno State is 2-1 in season opening contests. Fresno State has fared better in home openers, going 18-12, including 2-1 under King.
All-WAC Players Return
All three of Fresno State's All-WAC players return this year. Lindsay Logan, a first-team selection, Omelogo Udeze, a member of the second team, and Tiffany Simon, an All-WAC defensive team pick, come back for their junior seasons in 2001-02. They comprised to make up the only threesome in the conference who averaged more than 12 points per game.
Finally ... A Full Bench
A drastic change in this year's team will be in bench depth. Last year's roster was comprised of only nine players, and frequently the squad was pared to eight or at times even seven due to injuries. The current roster lists 15 players: five juniors, two sophomores and eight freshmen.
Scourting Delaware State
The Hornets return five letterwinners and three starters from last year's 16-14 (12-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic) team. Ashley Etheridge is DSC's top returnee. The sophomore guard was second on Delaware State last year with an 11.9 scoring average and tops on the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. The Hornets will need to replace the scoring power of Chavonne Stewart, last year's leader at 17.2 per game. Delaware State's roster features 12 players, 11 of which are either freshmen or sophomores. The elder statesman of the team is junior guard Terrana Pyfrom, who transferred to DSC from George Mason University. The Hornets are coached by Ed Davis. He is in his second year at the helm.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Delaware State
The Bulldogs and Hornets have never played before.
Delaware State Recent Action
Saturday's game will be the Hornets' first of the season. They play their only exhibition game Monday against Lincoln.
Another Strong Class
For the second consecutive season, head coach Britt King has corraled a strong recruiting class. This year's group of newcomers was rated 53rd best in the nation by Women's Basketball Journal. All told, the Bulldogs signed eight players to national letters of intent. Cophie Moore (Arlington, Texas), a 5-foot 10-inch guard/forward, Joanna Barnes (Washington, D.C.), a 5-foot 10-inch two-guard, Aritta Lane (Alea, Hawaii), a 6-foot forward, Lisa Copeland (Orchard Lake, Mich.), a 5-foot 10-inch guard/forward, Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.), a 5-foot 6-inch guard, Barbara Johnson (Bakersfield, Calif.), a 6-foot 2-inch forward, Kim Holston (Washington, D.C.), a 5-foot 5-inch guard, and Lauren Stayton (Inglewood, Calif.), a 5-foot 9-inch guard, all signed to play for the Bulldogs this year.
Who's Gone?
Laura Paukert was the only senior on last year's team. She started nine games, including each of the last five, and averaged 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. The only other player on the 2000-01 squad not returning is freshman Annie Fagundes, who transferred to a junior college. Fagundes played sparingly and did not score a point last season.
Six in a Row?
One of the more amazing feats accomplished by any program in the WAC is Fresno State's stranglehold on the conference rebounding title. Last year, Omelogo Udeze's 9.7 average made her the fifth consecutive Bulldog to finish atop the WAC rebounding list. She joined past Bulldogs Janee Young (1996-97, '97-98) and Tiffany Lewis (1998-99, '99-00) in the record books. Udeze's season was made even more impressive by the fact that she was the only player in the conference to average a double-double with 15.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. The only other WAC team to finish first in a statistical category was Colorado State, which placed players atop the field goals attempted list from 1992-98.
Junior Experience
Unlike last year's team, this season's squad is heavier on upperclassmen. While the 2000-01 edition had no juniors and only one senior, this year's squad breakdown will feature five juniors, all of whom are expected to see significant playing time. Included in those juniors are all three of the Bulldogs' all-conference selections last year - Lindsay Logan, Omelogo Udeze and Tiffany Simon.
The Schedule
Fresno State will have its first three games of the 2001-02 season in the North Gym before taking to the road. The Bulldogs open against Delaware State on Nov. 17 then host the annual Fresno State Classic on Nov. 22 and 24. This year's tournament features Cal State Northridge, Southern Utah and Marshall. Also highlighting the non-conference schedule are road games at California and Saint Mary's and a home game against Santa Clara.
The Conference Ledger
The addition of perennial national power Louisiana Tech to the WAC will make for a demanding conference schedule. The Bulldogs and Lady Techsters will match up in the North Gym on Dec. 30, the season's second conference game. Fresno State will have the opportunity to jump out to a good start in the WAC standings by playing five of its first seven conference games in the North Gym. However, the end of the season will be challenging, with road games at Louisiana Tech and SMU followed by the WAC tournament. This marks the fourth time in the last five season the Bulldogs have wrapped up the regular season on the road.
Board Games
With six six-footers on the 2001-02 roster, Fresno State should prove to be a rebounding force. That is something that will make head coach Britt King smile. Last year, when outrebounding their opponent, the Bulldogs were 7-5. Conversely, the team was only 3-14 when it did not. Amazingly, in the WAC Tournament game against SMU, Fresno State established a new tournament record when it grabbed 58 in the loss to the Mustangs.
Garcia, Fleming Back to 100 Percent
The loss of Laura Garcia was a damaging one for Fresno State last year. The starting point guard in 12 of the first 15 games, Garcia was lost for the season when she tore her posterior cruciate ligament Jan. 12 at SMU. In her absence, the Bulldogs went 5-9 with losses in six of their last eight games. At the time she went down, Garcia was averaging 7.7 points and 3.1 boards per game. It was her basket with 11.4 seconds left that gave FS a thrilling 66-62 victory at Boise State on Dec. 16. Fleming's return will also be of help to Fresno State. The sophomore missed 14 games during the 2000-01 season with shin splints but is back to 100 percent for the start of this year.
Terrific Trio
Fresno State's dynamic trio of Lindsay Logan (16.9 ppg), Omelogo Udeze (13.8 ppg) and Tiffany Simon (12.8 ppg) was the most prolific in the Western Athletic Conference. Each averaged more than 12 points per game, making them the only threesome in the conference who could boast that accomplishment. Fresno State was also the only WAC team with three players ranked in the top 12 in scoring average. In addition, Udeze finished tops in field goal percentage (.533) and rebounds (9.7 per game) while Logan led the conference in several statistical categories, including assists (5.7 per game), three-pointers per game (3.1) and double-digit scoring games (27).
So Good, It's Scary
Despite being in the crosshairs of opposing defenses the entire season, first-team All-WAC selection Lindsay Logan posted eye-popping numbers last year in becoming the first Bulldog named to the All-WAC first team since the 1994-95 season. Her named dotted the conference statistical sheet in many categories. Following are those categories and where Logan rests:
Category Total PlaceAssists Avg.-------------------5.65------1stMinutes Per Game---------------37.1-----T1stDouble-Digit Scoring Games-------27------1stThree-Pters Per Game------------3.1------1stScoring Avg.-------------------16.9-----T3rdSteals Avg.--------------------1.76-----T9thHeave-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, which at the time tied the FS record for threes attempted in a single season. However, last year Logan took her three-point shooting to another stratosphere. The sophomore attempted 271, eclipsing the record she tied in 1999-00 by 92. Logan drained 3.1 three-pointers per game, tops in the WAC and tied for fifth in the nation. She made at least one three-pointer in all 29 games last season and in 52 of 58 games in her career.
It's Raining Threes
Fresno State made at least one three-pointer in each game last year, meaning they have now made at least one three-pointer in 58 consecutive games. The last time FS did not make a three in a game was March 1, 1999, a 78-48 loss to the Owls in the WAC tournament in Las Vegas. In addition, guard Lindsay Logan has made at least one three in each game during the 2000-01 season.
Bulldogs Picked Sixth in WAC Preseason Poll
Fresno State was picked to finish sixth by conference coaches in the WAC preseason poll. Conference newcomer Louisiana Tech received nine of 10 first place votes and was voted as the favorite to win the conference title. Hawai'i and SMU were second and third, respectively. Lindsay Logan and Omelogo Udeze were both selected to the preseason All-WAC first team. Following is the preseason poll and All-WAC teams:
WAC PRESEASON POLLNo Team Votes 1. Louisiana Tech (9)-----81 2. Hawai'I (1)------------69 3. SMU--------------------63 4. Nevada-----------------56 5. Rice-------------------53 6. Fresno State-----------39 7. Tulsa------------------35 8. Boise State------------199T. San Jose State---------179T. UTEP-------------------17
PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAMSFirst Team
- Lindsay Logan, Fresno State
- Omelogo Udeze, Fresno State
- Ayanna Walker, Louisiana Tech
- Takeisha Lewis, Louisiana Tech
- Kate Smith, Nevada
Second Team
- Kaci Alexander, SMU
- Atari Parker, San Jose State
- Andrea Cossey, SMU
- Daneesh McIntosh, Rice
- Crista Peterson, Boise State
Bulldogs by the Notes
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ayanna Walker, Louisiana Tech
- Some quick bullet notes about the Bulldogs heading into this year's season opener -
- Lindsay Logan was the first Bulldog named to the All-WAC first team since the 1994-95 season.
- Logan has started 56 of 57 games in her career. Her only appearance off the bench was last year at Hawai'i.
- Logan made 19 three-pointers in the final five games last year, including three in the WAC tournament game against SMU.
- Logan has led the WAC in assists her first two years as a Bulldog.
- Fresno State has had a player named to the WAC All-Defensive team three out of the last four years. Last year, Tiffany Simon received the honor.
- Simon scored in double figures in 24 of Fresno State's 29 points last year.
- Mindy Clark was the only freshman on the 2000-01 squad to start every game.
- The Bulldogs were 2-12 last year when committing more than 20 turnovers in a game and 8-7 when they did committed less.
- Omelogo Udeze was the only player in the WAC to average a double-double in conference games. Udeze scored 15.8 points and pulled down 10.9 rebounds per game a season ago.
- Udeze led everyone in the WAC with 13 double-doubles last year.
- Fresno State's 2001-02 roster features eight freshmen, two sophomores and five juniors.
- The Bulldogs return seven letterwinners and four starters from the 2000-01 squad. Only Laura Paukert (graduation) and Annie Fagundes (transferred to a junior college) did not return.
- Simon, Udeze and Logan were the only threesome in the conference to average more than 12 points per game last year. They have also played in every game since they arrived at Fresno State in 1999.
- The Bulldogs are 15-13 in the North Gym the past two seasons.
- Fresno State plays its first three games in the North Gym before hitting the road for five of the next seven. Included in that stretch are games against California, Northern Arizona and Saint Mary's, team that have defeated the Bulldogs in Fresno the last two years.
- Fresno State was 7-5 last year when outrebounding its opponent and 3-14 when it does not.
- In the last two seasons, the Bulldogs are 17-9 when scoring more than 65 points and 4-29 when they do not.
- FS established a North Gym women's basketball attendance record Jan. 20, 2001, when 1,370 watched the Bulldogs defeat Nevada 60-51.
- Head coach Britt King picked up her 100th career victory last year when Fresno State defeated Nevada.
- The Bulldogs defeated SMU last year for the first time in program history.
