Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
SMU
Women's Basketball Gets Past SMU 70-63
12/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State dominated defensively and on the boards on its way to a 70-63 victory over SMU in the WAC opener for both teams. The win snaps the Bulldogs' three-game losing streak and improves their record to 6-5 (1-0 WAC) while the Mustangs fall to 5-6 (0-1 WAC).
The Bulldogs came out of the blocks shooting well but playing free and loose with the basketball. Fresno State held a 36-29 lead at half behind 58 percent shooting and a 23-17 rebound advantage. But SMU, which hit only 31 percent of its shots in the opening 20 minutes, managed to hang in the game thanks to 15 FS turnovers.
Fresno State cleaned up its act at the beginning of the second half, however, bolting to a 52-36 lead just five minutes in. The Bulldogs held onto their double-digit lead until 5:18 left, when the Mustangs cut it to 64-55 on two free throws by Shonte Roberts.
SMU, limited to only eight players due to injuries, got within five on a layup by Roberts with 2:25 to go. It was still a five-point game with 1:35 left when Logan converted one-of-two free throws, putting FS up 69-63. The Mustangs could do nothing else offensively, however, missing their last five shots. SMU finished the game shooting 37 percent from the floor.
While four Fresno State players scored in double figures, it was one who didn't that may have made the biggest difference in the game. Tiffany Simon, a WAC All-Defensive selection last year, shut down one of the conference's deadliest outside shooters in SMU's Andrea Cossey. After hitting three of her first five three-pointers, Simon switched to cover Cossey and threw a blanket over her, allowing the sophomore to get off only two shots from beyond the arc the remainder of the game. Cossey ended with 11 points, all of which came in the first nine minutes.
"Tiffany wasn't selected to the WAC All-Defensive Team for nothing," head coach Britt King said. "Defense is one of her strengths, and she really tightened up on [Cossey] in the second half."
"I just didn't want to let her get the ball," Simon said. "I figured if she didn't get the ball, she couldn't score."
Veronica Mack's career-high 18 points paced the Bulldogs. Omelogo Udeze and Aritta Lane both added double-doubles. Udeze had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Lane posted 10 and 11, respectively. For Lane, it was her fourth double-double of the season, tying her for the WAC lead. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Mustangs 45-34.
Roberts came off the bench to lead SMU with 15 points. Kaci Alexander added 12.
Next for Fresno State is 11th-ranked Louisiana Tech on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the North Gym. The Lady Techsters will be the highest ranked team ever to play in Fresno.
"This game will give us an opportunity to measure ourselves," King said. "We'll be playing a team that's where we want to be."
