Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
<li> UTEP
Women's Hoops Falls In 90-68 Loss To UTEP
1/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2003
EL PASO, TEXAS- Fresno State struggled to find its rhythm while UTEP shot 58-percent in both halves, including a 7-12 mark from three-point territory, as the Miners downed the Bulldogs 90-68 on Saturday night at the Don Haskins Center.
Fresno State (8-6, 2-2 WAC) suffered its worst defeat of the season, as the Bulldogs shot just 38.2-percent and trailed throughout the entire contest. Four UTEP (7-7, 2-2 WAC) players scored in double-figures, led by Romie DeAnda's 24 points to go along with 10 boards.
Senior Lindsay Logan (Sandy, Utah) paced Fresno State with a season-high 23 points, including a 4-9 clip from three-point land. Fellow senior Omelogo Udeze (Los Angeles, Calif.) chipped in with 12 points, while junior Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) grabbed 10 rebounds.
Freshman Faith Probst (Rowville, Victoria, Australia) played well for the Bulldogs in just her second game, pulling down five rebounds and blocking two shots in seven minutes of action.
UTEP completely dominated the first half of play, storming out to a 46-31 lead on 19-33 shooting from the field. The Miners were 5-7 from three-point territory and led by as many as 19 in the period. Conversely, Fresno State shot just 13-34 (38.2-percent) and knocked down only one of the eight triples it attempted.
An Udeze jumper at the 15:52 mark brought the 'Dogs within three at 9-6. UTEP would take control from that point on, surging out to a 17-6 scoring run. Two free throws by Aritta Lane (Aiea, Hawaii) cut the Miner's lead to nine at 23-14 with just over eight minutes to go, but UTEP once again got on a roll and owned a double-digit lead for the remainder of the half.
A Logan three-pointer as time expired sliced the lead to 46-31 at halftime.
The Miners began the second half much like the first ended, extending their lead to as many as 22 at 58-36 with 15:36 left following a lay-up by Zoric.
After UTEP extended its lead to 63-40 with 13:30 to go, Fresno State made a brief charge with an 8-0 scoring run that cut the Miner advantage to 63-48 with just above 12 minutes to play. Sophomore Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.) highlighted the stretch with a three-pointer and a successful three-point play.
But the Miners were just too strong on the evening, making 19-33 shots in the second half to lead by as many as 25 and pull away for the victory.
Fresno State returns home next weekend and will host SMU on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. in the North Gym. The homestand concludes on Saturday, Jan. 18, with the much-anticipated contest against nationally-ranked Louisiana Tech at 2 p.m.
