Fresno State Athletics
Remember Her Name: Aritta Lane
1/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - There is a special familial significance to Aritta Rose Lane's name. The six-foot freshman basketball player said, "My father insisted that I be named Aritta after my great aunt who was born on an Indian reservation at the southernmost tip of Texas." Though she isn't sure what the actual ethnic origin of her name is, she has heard it all. "Some people have told me that it's Chinese, some have said Spanish, or even African." Her middle name also connects her to her female ancestors. "Every woman on both sides of my family has had Rose for a middle name."
The power forward was born and raised in Hawaii, and her high school was built on top of an ancient Hawaiian burial ground. "I'm not superstitious, but our school had ghosts. The battle of Aiea took place there a long time ago on what is now the football field. Legend says that if you run on the track at night, you can see them fighting," she said. The school has an annual blessing for the ghosts to ensure the safety of those still living.
Aritta speaks Hawaiian from the years of native culture classes that she took in school. Though most people think of Hawaii as a paradise, it's "just home" to her. While she thinks that parts of the island are beautiful, she said that urbanization has taken over. "Where I grew up it's just city, building after building and house after house. People need to come now to catch the real Hawaii, because there is so much development going on, and the fields of sugar cane and pineapple are disappearing."
She started playing extracurricular club basketball at the Air Force Youth Center when she was in seventh grade. In high school, she lettered three times and led her team to a state championship as a senior. That year she was named first-team All-State.
This year, she has been one of Fresno State's most productive players, averaging a double-double at 11.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. "We knew when we recruited Aritta she was a fantastic player, and she has lived up to her billing. Aritta has a chance to be an impact player for us now and in the future," head coach Britt King said.
About basketball, Aritta says, "I like how much you can put into it. The main thing is to have heart, have desire. That's how you get through a game."
