Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Penn<BR>(Navy Classic)
Women' Hoops Explodes For 85-80 Win Over Penn
12/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2002
ANNAPOLIS, Md.- Fresno State produced its highest scoring output of the season on Saturday evening in the opening round of the Navy Classic, notching an 85-80 victory over Penn. The Bulldogs, who have now won five of their last six after starting the season 0-2, shot a season-best 48.6-percent from the field and had four players score in double figures.
The 85 points were the most Fresno State had scored in a game since a 78-62 win at UTEP last season.
Senior Omelogo Udeze (Los Angeles, Calif.) recorded her second straight double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while fellow senior Lindsay Logan (Sandy, Utah) chipped in with 19. Senior Laura Garcia (Fresno, Calif.) and sophomore Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.) both contributed 13 points in the triumph. The Bulldogs knocked down a season-best nine three-pointers in the win.
"We still have some things to work on but this was a great win for us to get on the road," said head coach Stacy Johnson-Klein. "Our defense needs to be much better but I was really pleased with the way we attacked the basket in the first half. Tonight we were able to jump out to an early lead and that gave us the confidence we needed to hold on for the win."
Fresno State raced out to a 40-32 advantage at halftime, representing their biggest first-half scoring output of the season. The Bulldogs, who had averaged just 21 points on 30.8-percent shooting in the first half of their last four games, erupted against Penn with a 48.6-percent shooting performance in the first 20 minutes.
Mack, who entered Saturday's contest averaging just 1.9 points per game, paced the Bulldogs with 13 points at intermission on 5-7 shooting.
Both teams traded baskets early on in the first half with neither squad able to jump out ahead to a comfortable lead. After Penn took a 15-12 lead, Mack tied the game with the first of three consecutive first-half three-pointers. Penn's Jenn Jones then answered with back-to-back buckets of her own before Garcia knocked down a triple to give Fresno State a 23-20 edge.
The Quakers battled back to take a brief 28-25 lead following a three-pointer by Jones, but the 'Dogs responded by ending the half with a 15-4 scoring run to claim the halftime lead. Logan poured in nine of Fresno State's 15 points during the stretch, as the Bulldogs proceeded to make several key defensive stops.
Fresno State continued its offensive explosion at the start of the second half, knocking down four of its first five shots. Senior Channan High (New Carrollton, Md.) got things going for the Bulldogs by hitting her first three shots to extend Fresno State's lead to 48-37.
Penn then went on a 8-2 run of its own to inch closer at 50-45, but Fresno State countered with a 13-9 stretch that increased its lead to 63-54. Udeze contributed eight points during the span while junior Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) scored her first points of the season with a three-point play.
However, the Quakers responded with their most impressive scoring run of the second half and poured in 18 of the next 29 points to cut the Fresno State lead to 74-72 with just over three minutes remaining. Udeze's turn-around jumper gave the 'Dogs a 76-72 cushion and after Penn misfired on a three-point attempt, Udeze was fouled on the ensuing trip down the floor and hit two free-throws to make it 78-72.
Penn's Jones added a basket to slice the lead to 78-74, but senior Tiffany Simon (Detroit, Mich.) was able to convert on the first of two free throws. The Quakers would make a late charge following a trey by Ima Abia until Logan iced the game with two free throws.
Fresno State will face the winner of Navy/College of Charleston in the championship game on Sunday at 12 p.m. PST. The Bulldogs, victors at the 2002-03 Fresno State Classic, will be searching for their second tournament championship of the fall season.
