Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Looks to Regroup on the Road
2/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2002
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Games No. 22
Saturday, Feb. 9 at Nevada (7-13, 4-7 WAC), 7 p.m.
Lawlor Events Center -- Reno, Nev.
TV/Radio: None
What's Coming Up
Fresno State hits the road this week in hopes that a change of scenery can help snap a four-game losing streak. The Bulldogs (8-13, 3-8 WAC) take on travel partner Nevada (7-13, 4-7 WAC) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Lawlor Events Center.
What Just Happened
The Bulldogs had a tough week, losing to Tulsa 72-49 and to Rice 76-64. Against the Golden Hurricane, Fresno State came out slow and could never recover. Lindsay Logan, who had 13 points, was the lone Bulldog in double figures. Two nights later, Fresno State played the Owls close for 30 minutes but fell victim to a late Rice run in a 12-point loss.
Logan Lighting it Up
All-America candidate Lindsay Logan reached an impressive milestone in her Fresno State career Dec. 30. The junior guard scored her 1,000th point, making her only the 11th Bulldog ever to reach that milestone. Logan currently ranks eighth in program history in points scored with 1,140 and needs only 13 to move into seventh place. She and Wendy Martell (1984-87) are the only players in Fresno State history with 1,000 points and 400 assists.
Searching for the Offense
This week, Fresno State will go in search of an offense that has not been clicking in the last four games. Prior to taking on San Jose State on Jan. 24, the Bulldogs ranked second in the conference with a 67.4 scoring average. But in the four games since, Fresno State has not scored more than 62 and is averaging just 57 points per game. The Bulldogs are currently fifth in the WAC with a 65.6 scoring average.
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 Wolf Pack
Nevada enters this week with a 7-13 (4-7 WAC) record with losses in three of the last four. Picked to finish fourth in the WAC preseason poll, the Wolf Pack has struggled putting points on the board, sitting ninth in the conference in scoring offense with a 60.0 average. Sophomore center Kate Smith paces Nevada with her 15.2 scoring average, a number that ranks her fourth in the WAC. Also starring is ultra-quick junior guard Laura Ingham, who leads the WAC in assists with a 6.3 average. In addition to their offensive woes, the Wolf Pack are being outrebounded by nearly five rebounds per game, third worst in the conference. Nevada is coached by Ada Gee, who is 100-137 and in her ninth year at the helm.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Nevada
The Bulldogs have dominated the all-time series with the Wolf Pack, holding a 15-4 edge. However, in the last seven meetings, Fresno State holds just a narrow 4-3 advantage. FS has been especially dominant against Nevada in Fresno, where it is 11-0 all-time against the Wolf Pack. The Bulldogs are 4-4 all-time against Nevada in Reno, but haven't won there since the 1988-89 season.
Nevada Recent Action
The Wolf Pack split their two games last week, defeating Rice 61-59 before falling to Tulsa 72-49. Against the Owls, Nevada was able to pull the upset behind an offense that shot 46 percent and a defense that forced 25 Rice turnovers. Kate Smith led the Wolf Pack with 15 points. Two days later, Nevada couldn't find its shooting touch, hitting just 32 percent from the floor. Smith once again led with 21 points.
Lane's Homecoming
Aritta Lane's return to her native Hawaii two weeks ago was quite an event. Although not quite as popular as entertainer Don Ho, Lane proved to be quite the attraction in her first return to the island since becoming a Bulldog. In addition to a large feature story in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the Aiea High School product attracted nearly 75 friends and relatives to watch her rack up 12 points and four rebounds in FS's game against Hawai`i on Jan. 26. Lane is looking to become the sixth consecutive Bulldog to lead the conference in rebounding at year's end. She currently is fourth in the WAC with 8.1 rebounds per game. She grabbed a career-high 18 boards against San Francisco on Dec. 12.
Streakin'
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 the Jan. 19 win against UTEP 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--------------------------------------------------------------------------HAWAI`I (Lost 69-53)First Half: Hold UH to 26 percent shooting, trail 27-23 at halfSecond Half: UH shoots 54 percent, outscores FS 42-30--------------------------------------------------------------------------RICE (LOST 76-64)First Half: Fall behind by 15 after 10 minutes, cut lead to 38-36 at halfSecond Half: Rice shoots 50 percent, goes on 19-4 run at end to win--------------------------------------------------------------------------Nevada-Fresno State Similarities
The Wolf Pack and Bulldogs have more in common than their proximity to each other. Both have found playing at home much more appealing than life on the road. Fresno State is 7-5 in home games while Nevada is 6-5, but both are 1-8 in away games. In addition, both hit 39 percent of their shots from the floor and possess star players that rank high in the conference in scoring. FS's Lindsay Logan is third in the WAC in scoring with a 16.3 average while Kate Smith is fourth at 15.2 per game.
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 making one three-pointer last week, Logan now has 195 threes in her career and is just 26 away from moving into first place in program history. In addition, Logan's 445 assists place her second all-time while her career scoring average of 14.6 ranks fourth. The Sandy, Utah, native is only the second player in FS history to record 1,000 points and 400 assists.
Using the Bench
Head coach Britt King has the advantage of a deep bench this year. She has used at least 10 players in every game, 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 rewarded King with 21.6 points per game this season.
Clark, Smith Renew Acquaintances
The last time Nevada and Fresno State hooked up, Mindy Clark had one of her best all-around efforts in a Bulldog uniform. 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. Clark has started six of the last seven games, a span in which she has averaged 5.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She tied her season-high with 10 points Jan. 26 at Hawai`i.
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 season'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 either start or have started at various times in 2001-02.
Terrific Trio
Last year, Fresno State's threesome of Lindsay Logan, Omelogo Udeze and Tiffany Simon 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 9.4 points per game. In addition, Lane is fourth in the WAC in rebounding at 8.1 per game while Logan is the third in scoring at 16.3.
Shooting the Three
Last week was one to forget for Fresno State's three-point shooters. After establishing themselves as one of the WAC's most accurate teams from beyond the arc through the first 19 games, the Bulldogs made only three of their 29 attempts last week. Nonetheless, Fresno State still enters this week tops in the conference with 123 three-pointers made. Only two other teams - UTEP and Rice - have eclipsed the century mark in three-pointers made. The Bulldogs have now made a trey in 79 consecutive contests. The last time FS did not make a three in a game was March 1, 1999, a 78-48 loss to Rice in the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas.
Overtime Woes
Extra periods have not been kind to Fresno State in recent years. The Bulldogs have lost their last four overtime games, including a 68-66 defeat at the hands of Saint Mary's on Dec. 21. 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.
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 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 is fourth the conference with an 8.1 average, including an 18-rebound performance Dec. 12 against San Francisco.
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 4-5 when outrebounding its opponent this year, compared to 4-8 when it doesn't. The point has been in perfect illustration in the last two weeks. The Bulldogs have won the rebounding battle in three of the last five games but are only 1-4 during that stretch.
So Good, So Often
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 is third in the WAC in scoring at 16.3 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 atop 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 PlaceThrees Per Game 2.6 1stFree Throw Percentage .846 2ndScoring 16.3 3rdAssists 4.6 6thSteals 2.0 8thAll-WAC Back
All three of Fresno State's All-WAC players returned 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, are back for their junior seasons in 2001-02. They combined to make up the only threesome in the conference who averaged more than 12 points per game last year. This year, Logan is third in the WAC in scoring at 16.3 per game while Udeze averages 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Simon's stifling defense appears to have her destined for a second consecutive appearance on the All-Defensive Team.
The Fifth Sign
Having lost its last four games, Fresno State enters this week hoping to snap its longest losing streak since the beginning of last year. The Bulldogs have not lost five in a row under head coach Britt King, who took over prior to the 1998-99 season. In fact, Fresno State's last five-game losing streak came during the 1995-96 year.
Lining It Up
Fresno State has not only had its problems shooting free throws this year, but it also has struggled just getting to the line. The Bulldogs enter this week eighth in the WAC with a .641 free throw percentage. But most maddening to Fresno State has been the frequency with which its opponents get to the line. This season, the Bulldogs have taken 124 fewer free throws than their opponents, an average of 5.9 less trips per game. There have been eight occasions when FS's opponent has attempted 10 more free throws than it has, with the Bulldogs 1-7 in such games. Those contests are listed below:
Fresno State OpponentOpponent FT-FTA FT-A Difference Game ResultSouthern Utah 10-16 23-26 -13 WON 76-66-------------------------------------------------------------------------Bradley 9-18 17-30 -8 LOST 80-62-------------------------------------------------------------------------Louisiana Tech 6-8 16-21 -10 LOST 74-50-------------------------------------------------------------------------Rice 12-15 28-41 -16 LOST 76-58-------------------------------------------------------------------------Tulsa 3-6 15-20 -12 LOST 66-54-------------------------------------------------------------------------Boise State 11-15 22-28 -11 LOST 79-76-------------------------------------------------------------------------Hawai`i 2-3 23-31 -21 LOST 69-53-------------------------------------------------------------------------Rice 18-27 26-38 -8 LOST 76-64-------------------------------------------------------------------------Winning at Altitude
With Fresno State traveling to play Nevada on Saturday, it is worthwhile to note that two of the Bulldogs' last three road victories have come in locations where altitude is a factor. Fresno State picked up its lone road victory of this season Dec. 8 with a 73-68 win over Northern Arizona at the Rolle Activity Center in Flagstaff, Ariz., elevation 7,000 feet. Last year, the first of the Bulldogs' two road wins came at Boise State, elevation 2,842. The Bulldogs will take on the Wolf Pack on Saturday at the Lawlor Events Center, elevation 4,500.
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. The Phoenix, Ariz., native just finished a 10-game stretch in which she averaged 9.6 points per game, including double figures in six contests. Mack is fourth on the team with a 7.3 scoring average and is the second leading scorer among freshman on the Bulldogs.
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. This year, Logan has attempted 151 and is on pace to fire up 211. But she is also draining her treys at a 2.6 per game clip, tops in the WAC and among the best in the nation. The junior guard has made at least one three-pointer in 47 of the last 49 games and in 70 of 78 games in her career. This year, her 52 three-pointers made ranks first in the WAC. Nevada, Fresno State's opponent this week, felt Logan's three-point wrath in the last meeting between the two when she hit a season-high six.
Going the Distance
With Tiffany Simon coming off the bench Saturday against Rice, no Bulldog has played in and started every game. Simon had started Fresno State's first 20 games this year and 27 in a row, at the time the team's longest. Lindsay Logan, with seven in a row, now has the longest games started streak on the team. Only six Bulldogs have played in every game during the 2001-02 season - Simon, Omelogo Udeze, Aritta Lane, Veronica Mack, Laura Garcia and Channan High. Logan missed the Dec. 15 game against Santa Clara but has played in and started all 20 others.
Close, But...
Fresno State has had plenty of experience tasting narrow defeats the past two seasons. Unfortunately, that is a trend that has continued in 2001-02. The Bulldogs have been tied or have had a lead in the second half in seven of their 13 losses this year. Following is a breakdown of Fresno State's heartbreaking losses:
Date Opponent Time Left Lead Final Score-----------------------------------------------------------------------Nov. 28 at California 8:42 FS 42-41 Cal 62-55-----------------------------------------------------------------------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-----------------------------------------------------------------------Jan. 17 Boise State 2:09 Tied 74-74 BSU 79-76-----------------------------------------------------------------------Jan. 26 at Hawai`i 12:27 Tied 38-38 UH 69-53-----------------------------------------------------------------------Feb. 2 Rice 10:12 Rice 56-53 Rice 76-64-----------------------------------------------------------------------The Magic Number
Despite scoring 76 points against Boise State on Jan. 17, the Bulldogs fell to the Broncos 79-76. It marked the most points Fresno State scored in a loss since Dec. 12, 1992, when FS suffered a 79-76 loss at Cal State Fullerton. Usually, scoring more than 65 points is the key to victory for the Bulldogs. In fact, all eight victories this year have come when the team scores more than than 65 points. Since the 1999-00 season, the Bulldogs are 25-13 when scoring 65 points or more and 4-38 when they do not.
Bulldogs by the Notes
- Lindsay Logan has scored in double figures in 16 of the 20 games in which she has played this year.
- The only game Logan has missed in her career was the Dec. 15 contest against Santa Clara, which she sat out due to an illness.
- Tiffany Simon's 27-game starting streak came to an end Saturday when she came off the bench against Rice.
- Aritta Lane leads the team with five double-doubles, the last coming Jan. 5 at Tulsa when she scored 11 points and had 11 boards.
- Lane's 9.4 scoring average makes her the leading scorer among freshmen in the conference. She is already fourth in the WAC in rebounding with an 8.1 average.
- Kim Holston is 10-of-14 from three-point territory this year.
- Lisa Copeland received a start Saturday against Rice, the first of her career.
- Omelogo Udeze, the team's second leading scorer at 11.2 per game, has come off the bench in the last seven games.
- Fresno State is only 2-7 this year when committing more turnovers than its opponent.
- Britt King has used at least 10 players in every game this year.
- Twelve different Bulldogs scored in the 93-63 victory over UTEP on Jan. 19, most in the Britt King era.
- Fresno State's 2001-02 roster features eight freshmen, two sophomores and five juniors.
- The Bulldogs are 8-1 when shooting over 40 percent this year and 1-12 when they do not.
- FS is 7-0 when leading at halftime and 1-13 when it is not.
- Only six of the Bulldogs' 15 players are from California.
- The fewest points the Bulldogs have scored in a victory this year was 68, which came Jan. 12 against Nevada.
- Only two of Fresno State's final nine games are at home.
- The crowd of 2,254 on hand at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu to watch Fresno State play Hawai`i was the largest FS has played in front of this year.
- Opponents have shot 124 more free throws than Fresno State this season.
- A loss Saturday would give Fresno State its first five-game losing streak since the 1995-96 season.
- Fresno State has used seven different starting lineups. No Bulldog has started in every game this year.
- Fresno State has not defeated Nevada in Reno since Nov. 27, 1988, the same day "Bad Medicine" by Bon Jovi was topping the Billboard Music Charts.
- The Bulldogs 49 points scored against Tulsa on Thursday was their lowest output of the season. Not since Feb. 26, 2000, when Fresno State lost 64-43 at home to Rice, has it score less points in a home game.
- FS is 0-8 when scoring less than 65 points.
