Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Gets Season Underway With Exhibition
11/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 5, 2001
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What's Coming Up
Fresno State competes in its only formal exhibition of the 2001-02 season Saturday against The Firm. Seven returnees and eight newcomers comprise this year's roster, which opens up the season Nov. 17 against Delaware State at 7 p.m. in the North Gym.
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.
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.
Finally ... A Full Bench
A drastic change in this year's team will be in bench depth. Last year's roster contained 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.
Scouting The Firm
The Firm took on Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 1 and were defeated 82-66. Rachel Rosario led The Firm with 16 points. Kim Barfield added 13 and Dana Wilkerson posted 11. The team shot only 33 percent in the loss.
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.
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.
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 all of 2000-01. Her named dotted the WAC 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-------------------17PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAMS
First 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
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ayanna Walker, Louisiana Tech
