Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Readies for Two at Home
1/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Jan. 15, 2002
What's Coming Up
After snapping its three-game losing streak with a win Saturday, Fresno State (7-8, 2-3 WAC) looks to continue its solid play at home with two games at the North Gym this week. FS takes on Boise State (4-12, 0-6 WAC) on Thursday at 7 p.m. and UTEP (3-10, 1-4 WAC) on Saturday at 4 p.m.
What Just Happened
In their lone game last week, the Bulldogs defeated Nevada 68-56. Linsday Logan led Fresno State with 24 points, including 16 in the second half when FS pulled away from the Wolf Pack. The Bulldogs were deadly from behind the arc, hitting a season-high nine three-pointers.
Logan Hits 1,000
All-America candidate Lindsay Logan reached an impressive milestone in her Fresno State career against Louisiana Tech on Dec. 30. The junior guard scored her 1,000th point, making her only the 11th Bulldog ever to reach that milestone. Logan currently ranks 10th in program history in points scored with 1,059 and needs only 21 to move into ninth place. She joined Wendy Martell (1984-87) as the only players in Fresno State history with 1,000 points and 400 assists.
Tough to Beat at Home
The Bulldogs have proven tough to beat at home this year, posting a record of 6-2 in the North Gym, where they will play both games this week. Fresno State's home losses have come to 12th-ranked Louisiana Tech and Santa Clara, which received votes in the latest polls. FS is averaging 68.3 points in home games this year.
Bulldogs On the Internet
The broadcast of every Fresno State home game is available on the official website of Bulldog athletics, gobulldogs.com. The audio comes courtesy of KFSR (FM 90.7), Fresno State's student radio station.
Scouting the Broncos
Picked to finish eighth in the WAC preseason coaches poll, Boise State has struggled mightily in its first season in the conference. The Broncos are currently 4-12 (0-6 WAC) and have suffered losses in seven games in a row. BSU is led by senior forward Crista Peterson, a preseason second-team All-WAC pick who is posting a team-leading 15.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Junior guard Abby Vaughan chips in 9.9 points and 3.4 assists per game. Scoring has been a problem for the Broncos. They are currently eighth in the conference in scoring offense at 60.9 and have failed to break 60 points in four consecutive games. Boise State is coached by Trisha Stevens, who has a 71-85 record at BSU and is in her fifth year.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Boise State
The all-time series between the two teams is tied 2-2. Boise State and Fresno State have played each of the last two years, the Broncos winning in 1999 while the Bulldogs pulled out last year's matchup. In that most recent contest, Laura Garcia hit a driving layup with 11.2 seconds to go, breaking a 62-62 tie and boosting FS to a 66-62 win at BSU Pavilion.
Boise State Recent Action
The Broncos lost both of their games last week, falling to Rice 54-49 then to Tulsa 69-58. Boise State held leads in the second half of both games, but poor shooting wound up costing BSU. The Broncos hit only 28 percent of their shots against the Owls and just 36 percent two days later against the Golden Hurricane.
Scouting the Miners
UTEP enters this week 3-10 (1-4 WAC), having suffered losses in four of its past five games. The Miners' struggles are easily defined - they are last in the WAC in scoring offense (59.0) and last in scoring defense (78.9). Junior guard and Chicago native Kimya Murray leads UTEP with a 16.3 scoring average, good for third in the WAC. Also averaging in double figures is junior forward Dragana Zoric, who scores 13.7 points and grabs 9.0 boards per game. But even with Zoric's work on the glass, the Miners are still being outrebounded by an average of 46-36 each contest. UTEP is coached by first-year coach Keitha Green.
Fresno State All-Time vs. UTEP
The Miners lead 7-5 all-time in a series that has been dominated by the home team. Fresno State is 5-1 against UTEP in the North Gym but 0-6 all-time in scenic El Paso, Texas. Last year, FS defeated the Miners 75-69 in the North Gym and lost 62-60 at the Don Haskins Center.
UTEP Recent Action
The Miners lost both of their games last week, dropping a 83-70 decision to Tulsa then 84-59 to Rice. Against the Golden Hurricane, the Miners were outrebounded 44-32, offsetting 24 points from Kimya Murray. Two days later, the Owls shredded UTEP's defense to the tune of a season-high 84 points. The Miners committed 26 turnovers in the loss.
Close, But...
Fresno State had plenty of experience tasting narrow defeats the previous two seasons. Unfortunately, that is a trend that has continued in 2001-02. The Bulldogs have had a second half lead in five of their eight losses this year and have been within striking distance late in the game of the others. Following is a breakdown of Fresno State's heartbreaking losses this year:
Date Opponent Time Left Lead Final Score----------------------------------------------------------------------Nov. 28 at California 8:42 FS 42-41 Cal 62-55----------------------------------------------------------------------Dec. 1 at Bradley 19:20 BU 42-39 BU 80-62----------------------------------------------------------------------Dec. 12 at San Francisco :17 Tied 67-67 USF 69-67----------------------------------------------------------------------Dec. 15 at Santa Clara 14:55 SCU 45-44 SCU 75-65----------------------------------------------------------------------Dec. 21 at Saint Mary's 2:10 (ot) FS 67-66 SMC 69-67 (ot)----------------------------------------------------------------------Jan. 3 at Rice 14:45 Tied 36-36 Rice 76-58----------------------------------------------------------------------Jan. 5 at Tulsa 3:41 TU 59-53 TU 66-54----------------------------------------------------------------------Recording Logan
Despite being just a junior, Lindsay Logan is in the midst of taking a scalpel to the Fresno State record book (see sidebar to left). After tying her career-high with six three-pointers against Nevada, Logan now has 185 threes in her career and is just four away from moving into second place in program history. In addition, Logan's 416 assists are third all-time while her career scoring average of 14.7 ranks fourth. The Sandy, Utah, native is only the second player in FS history to record 1,000 points and 400 assists.
Individual Talent On Display
Three of the top four scorers in the WAC will be playing in the North Gym this week. Lindsay Logan leads the conference with a 17.3 average. On Thursday, Logan and the Bulldogs will meet Boise State, which features Crista Peterson, currently fourth in the WAC with a 15.0 average. Two days later, UTEP comes to Fresno with Kimya Murray, possessor of a 16.3 scoring average, third in the conference. FS faced Kate Smith, fifth in the WAC in scoring at 14.2 per game, last week and held her to just nine points.
Udeze Taking Control
This season, Omelogo Udeze has continued her solid play of a year ago. The junior forward has been especially good at home, where Fresno State will play its next two games. In the Bulldogs' eight games in the North Gym this year, Udeze is averaging 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. In the WAC opener Dec. 28 against SMU, she recorded her third double-double of the season by scoring 14 points and hauling in 10 rebounds. Thus far, Udeze is averaging 12.4 points and 7.7 boards per game, numbers that rank her 13th and eighth, respectively, in the WAC.
Streaking
For good and for bad, Fresno State has proven to be a streaky team so far in 2001-02. FS put together a solid 40-minute effort in Saturday's win against Nevada but have failed to do so in other games this year. Here are examples of FS's streaks this year:
CALIFORNIA (Lost 62-55)First Half: Scored just 15 points, trailed by 15 at halfSecond Half: Shot 45 percent, scored 40 points, took lead at one point----------------------------------------------------------------------BRADLEY (Lost 80-62)First Half: Shot 46 percent, trailed just 41-37 at halfSecond Half: Made just four of first 17 shots to start half----------------------------------------------------------------------CAL STATE FULLERTON (Won 75-65)First Half: Scored 46 points, shot 60 percentSecond Half: Scored 29 points, shot 29 percent----------------------------------------------------------------------NORTHERN ARIZONA (Won 73-68)First Half: Shot just 34 percent, trailed by four at halfSecond Half: Made 10 of first 11 shots, including all four threes----------------------------------------------------------------------SAN FRANCISCO (Lost 69-67)First Half: Shot just 32 percent, trailed by 13 at halfSecond Half: Scored 40 points and nearly pulled off a comeback win----------------------------------------------------------------------SANTA CLARA (Lost 75-65)First Half: Only 9-of-36 (.250) from the floor, scored 23 pointsSecond Half: Shot 54 percent and scored 42 points----------------------------------------------------------------------LOUISIANA TECH (Lost 74-50)First Half: Led most of half, trailed 35-31 at intermissionSecond Half: Shot just 28 percent and was outscored 39-19----------------------------------------------------------------------RICE (Lost 76-58)First Half: Trailed 30-26 at halftime, shot 36 percentSecond Half: Outscored 46-32, shot 34 percent----------------------------------------------------------------------Good Things Coming in Threes
Fresno State jumped out to a 3-0 start to this season, its best start since the 1996-97 season. In fact, the Bulldogs' three-game winning streak was only the team's fifth since the 96-97 season. FS has not won four in a row since 1994-95. Fresno State fell in its effort for a second three-game winning streak Dec. 12 at San Francisco. The Bulldogs haven't had two three-game winning streaks in a season since that 1996-97 year.
Using the Bench
Head coach Britt King has had the advantage of a deep bench this year. She has used at least 10 players in every game this season, including 14 in the season opener against Delaware State, most used in an FS contest since King took over prior to the 1998-99 year. The reserves have averaged 20.2 points per game this season.
Clark Pays Dividends
Mindy Clark had one of her best games as a Bulldog in Fresno State's 68-56 victory over Nevada on Saturday. Receiving her first start of the season, the sophomore center responded, establishing season-highs with 10 points and eight rebounds. She also was dominant on the defensive end, holding preseason first-team All-WAC selection and Wolf Pack leading scorer Kate Smith to just nine points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Driving the Lane
Freshman Aritta Lane has been superb for Fresno State so far this year, but never more so than at San Francisco on Dec. 12, when she had 18 rebounds, finishing just two shy of the FS single-game record of 20. Lane is averaging a WAC-best 9.1 rebounds per game and has posted five double-doubles, her most recent coming Jan. 5 at Tulsa. The Aiea, Hawaii, native is looking to become the sixth consecutive Bulldog to lead the conference in rebounding at year's end. She will have a chance to face one of the challengers to her top spot this week in UTEP's Dragana Zoric, who averages 9.0 boards per game.
Another Strong Class
For the third 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 center, 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. This marks the first season since head coach Britt King took over in 1998 the Bulldogs have been comprised solely of players recruited by the current FS coaching staff.
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. The only other WAC team to finish first in a statistical category five years in a row was Colorado State, which placed players atop the field goals attempted list from 1992-98. Currently, Aritta Lane leads the conference with a 9.1 average, including an 18-rebound performance Dec. 12 against San Francisco.
The Magic Number
Despite a three-game stretch in December that saw Fresno State score more than 65 points in three consecutive games and still lose, that number continues to be magical for the Bulldogs. All seven FS victories this year have come when the team scored 65 points or more. In addition, since the 1999-00 season, the Bulldogs are 24-12 when scoring 65 points or more and 4-34 when they do not.
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. Of the juniors, all start except Channan High, who offers the team quality minutes off the bench.
Board Games
Last year, outrebounding the other team was a boon for the Bulldogs. They were 7-5 in 2000-01 when grabbing more boards than the opposition and only 3-14 when they did not. But this year, its been just the opposite. Fresno State is only 3-3 when outrebounding its opponent this year, compared to 4-5 when they do not. The point was in perfect illustration Dec. 12 at San Francisco, when the Bulldogs pulled in a season-high 51 rebounds against the Dons but were defeated 69-67.
Terrific Trio
Last year, Fresno State's trio of Lindsay Logan (16.9 ppg), Omelogo Udeze (13.8 ppg) and Tiffany Simon (12.8 ppg) was the most prolific in the WAC. This year, Logan and Udeze are at it again, and while Simon has been a force defensively, freshman Aritta Lane has stepped in and produced offensively, averaging 9.3 points per game. In addition, Lane leads the WAC in rebounding at 9.1 per game while Logan is the top scorer at 17.5 a contest.
So Good, It's Scary
Game in and game out, opposing defenses know they must stop Lindsay Logan in order to defeat the Bulldogs. Nonetheless, the junior guard continues to put up eye-popping numbers. She currently leads the WAC in scoring at 17.5 per game and is in the top five in several other categories. This comes off a year that saw Logan named first-team All-WAC after finishing first in the conference in assists, double-digit scoring games and three-pointers per game. Following is a breakdown of where Logan currently sits on the WAC statistical sheet:
Category Avg/Total Place--------------------------------------------Scoring 17.5 1st--------------------------------------------Threes Per Game 3.1 1st--------------------------------------------Free Throw Percentage .857 2nd--------------------------------------------Assists 4.3 3rd--------------------------------------------Steals 2.1 5th--------------------------------------------Shooting the Three...
The Bulldogs have made the three-point shot a staple of their offense in the last couple of years. Fresno State netted a season-high nine from beyond the arc last week against Nevada and have now made a three in 73 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. This year, FS leads the WAC in three-pointers with 6.5 per game while Lindsay Logan, who has made a three in 43 of the last 44 games, leads the conference with 3.1 treys per game.
...and Defending the Three
Not only are the Bulldogs shooting three-pointers, they are defending them as well. Fresno State is allowing opponents to hit only .284 of their attempts from beyond the arc, the best mark in the WAC. The FS defense showed up last week, allowing Nevada to hit only 3-of-11 (.273) three-point attempts. On Jan. 3, FS's perimeter defense came up big against Rice, which went only 2-of-12 despite entering the game second in the WAC in three-pointers per game. Both Boise State and UTEP enter this week in the bottom half of the WAC in three-point field goal percentage.
Overtime Woes
Extra periods have not been kind to Fresno State in recent years. The Bulldogs have lost their last four overtime games, including Friday's 69-67 defeat at the hands of Saint Mary's. The 1999-00 season alone saw FS drop three overtime decisions. Since the 1994-95 season, the Bulldogs are just 1-9 in games involving overtime. The lone win came Dec. 17, 1998, when it took out San Diego 80-67.
Mack the Knife
Although just a freshman, Veronica Mack has already shown herself to be one of the WAC's best from three-point territory. Never was this more evident than in her display at the end of regulation against Saint Mary's on Dec. 21. Mack turned SMC's McKeon Pavilion into her personal playground, sinking four three-pointers in the final three minutes, the last of which came as the buzzer sounded and forced overtime. When the dust cleared, Mack had scored FS's last 12 points. On the season, the Phoenix, Ariz., native is fourth on the team with a 7.5 scoring average. She helped pace Fresno State to a victory Saturday against Nevada by scoring 15 points.
Simon's Tenacious D
There's more to playing basketball than scoring, and nobody proves that point more than guard Tiffany Simon, a WAC All-Defensive Team selection last year who nearly always matches up with the opposition's top perimeter scorer. Although she is only averaging 5.5 points per game in 2001-02, the junior has been one of the team's most important players due to her suffocating defense. This was in perfect demonstration Dec. 28 against SMU. Mustang guard Andrea Cossey, a preseason second-team All-WAC pick, came out of the gates hitting three of her first five three-pointers in the opening minutes of the contest. Simon then switched to cover Cossey, and from that point forward the sophomore received nary a touch, scoring no points and taking only two shots from beyond the arc the rest of the game.
Bombs Away
In her freshman season, Lindsay Logan proved she was capable of hitting the three-pointer. 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 has made at least one three-pointer in 42 of the last 43 games and in 65 of 72 games in her career. This year, her 43 three-pointers made ranks first in the WAC.
Bulldogs by the Notes
- Lindsay Logan has scored in double figures in 11 of 14 games. She leads the WAC with a 17.5 scoring average.
- Logan missed the Dec. 15 game against Santa Clara with a stomach flu. It marked the first and only game in her Fresno State career she has not played.
- Logan's six three-pointers against Nevada tied a career high.
- Mindy Clark received her first start of the season Saturday and responded, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds, both season highs.
- Aritta Lane has three double-doubles this year and has double-digit rebounding games seven times, including an 18-rebound performance at San Francisco, just two shy of FS's all-time mark.
- Lane leads the conference with a 9.1 rebound average.
- Tiffany Simon has started 22 games in a row, the longest streak on the team. She is also the only Bulldog to start every game this year.
- Kim Holston is 7-of-9 from beyond the arc this year.
- Omelogo Udeze has scored in double figures nine times this year, but none in the last four games.
- It took FS only seven games to win its fifth game this year. Last year, the Bulldogs needed 14 games to win five.
- The Bulldogs are 6-2 in the North Gym in 2001-02.
- Britt King has used at least 10 players in every game this year, including 14 in the season opener against Delaware State.
- Fresno State's 2001-02 roster features eight freshmen, two sophomores and five juniors.
- The Bulldogs are 7-0 when shooting over 40 percent this year.
- FS is 6-0 when leading at halftime in 2001-02.
- Only six of the Bulldogs' 15 players are from California.
- The fewest points the Bulldogs have scored in a victory was 68, which came Saturday against Nevada.
- Fresno State has had a double-digit rebounder in nine games.
- Should FS win both its games this week, it would have two three-game winning streaks this season, the first time that has happened since 1996-97.
- Fresno State has been outrebounded in its last four games, three of which have been losses.
- Head coach Britt King has used five different starting lineups this year. The most frequently used lineup has been Garcia (1), Logan (2), Simon (3), Udeze (4), Lane (5). That quintet has started five games.
