Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
<li> Rice
Women's Hoops Upsets Rice 77-70 In WAC Opener
1/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2003
FRESNO, Calif.- Senior forward Omelogo Udeze (Los Angeles, Calif.) matched her career high with 26 points to lead four Bulldog players in double figures as Fresno State led for all but five minutes in a 77-70 upset win over Rice in the WAC opener for both schools.
Fresno State (7-4, 1-0 WAC) won its conference opener for the second consecutive season and snapped a 10-game losing streak to Rice (2-7, 0-1 WAC), which was picked to finish second in the WAC preseason coaches poll.
"This is a statement to the conference and to the country," first-year head coach Stacy Johnson-Klein said. "I still feel like there is so much uncertainty about this team but I'm so proud of the way they played tonight. What an effort this was; just a huge win."
The Bulldogs, which led by as many as 16 in both halves, were dominant underneath the basket with Udeze finishing at 10-19 shooting from the field after several easy putbacks and lay-ups. Senior Laura Garcia (Fresno, Calif.) continued her strong play with a season-best 14 points, while Lindsay Logan (Sandy, Utah) and Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) chipped in with 12 points apiece. Thursday's victory marked the third time in four games that four Fresno State players reached double-figures.
Both teams struggled from the outset, with Rice's Anne Peck making the first two points of the game on free throws at the 17:06 mark. That would be the only lead of the night for the Owls, which finished 21-8 overall last season as one of the conference's most dominant squads. From that point, Fresno State surged out on a 24-6 scoring run that featured baskets from five different players.
After Udeze's jumper gave the 'Dogs a 28-12 lead with 6:41 remaining in the first half, the Owls made a slight charge behind consecutive buckets by Johnetta Hayes.
With the Bulldogs up by 11 at 30-19, the schools traded scores before Rice's Peck brought the Owls within five at the half at 34-29 following two free throws and a successful three-point play.
However, Fresno State regrouped at intermission and responded with another scoring run- this one an 18-7 stretch- that increased the lead to 16 at 52-36 with just over twelve minutes remaining. Garcia's lay-up equaled the largest lead of the game for Fresno State at that juncture, which came on the heels of a Tiffany Simon (Detroit, Mich.) jumper from the top of the key on the previous possession.
The 'Dogs would preserve their double-digit lead for the majority of the second half, with a three-pointer by Kate Beckler at the 8:07 mark signaling the only time Rice was able to slice the lead to single digits.
Udeze was nails for the Bulldogs in the second half, recording 16 of her 26 points and hitting on all six free throw attempts. Johnson also became more involved in the second stanza, pouring in 10 points and grabbing five rebounds.
Rice received back-to-back triples from Rosyland Jeffries and Lindsey Maynard in the final minute of the game to get within five with just 23 seconds left, but Simon's blocked shot on a Beckler three-point attempt and two free throws by Logan iced the game for the home squad.
Fresno State will look to improve to 6-0 at home when it hosts Tulsa (6-6, 1-0 WAC) on Saturday night. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Selland Arena- the opening game of a doubleheader with the men's team.
