Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
<li> Hawai'i
Women's Basketball Downed By Hawaii, 64-43
1/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2003
HONOLULU, HI- Fresno State (9-8, 3-4 WAC) shot a season-low 26.2-percent and trailed throughout in a 64-43 loss to Hawai'i (10-5, 4-2 WAC) on Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Three Rainbow Wahine players scored in double-figures, while senior Omelogo Udeze (Los Angeles, Calif.) paced the Bulldogs with 13 points and 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the year. Senior Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) added eight points and five boards.
The first-half scoring woes that have plagued Fresno State so far this season were on display once again, as the 'Dogs made just 8-30 (26.7-percent) from the field. Conversely, Hawai'i shot 10-24 (41.7-percent) and committed just four fouls to Fresno State's nine.
Hawai'i built up an early lead by hurting the Bulldogs inside, where center Christen Roper was able to use her height advantage and notch six points and five boards early on. The Rainbow Wahine led by as many as 14 in the period, reaching its first double-digit lead at 18-8 with 12:04 to go after a basket by Roper.
Fresno State continued to struggle offensively and Hawai'i countered with an 11-7 scoring run that was punctuated with a jumper from guard April Atuaia, giving the Rainbow Wahine their biggest lead of the first half at 29-15 with 2:17 to play.
However, the Bulldogs responded by closing out the second half on an 8-2 run, capped off by a jumper from sophomore Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.) to end the half trailing just 31-23.
The Rainbow Wahine came right back with an 11-5 scoring stretch to open the second half, going back up by 14 points following a triple from Atuaia to make it 42-28 with 13:28 remaining.
After Natasja Allen put Hawai'i up 44-28, Johnson converted on a three-point play as the Bulldogs closed to within 13 at 44-31. But the Rainbow Wahine made yet another defensive stop, limiting the 'Dogs to just two baskets over the next five minutes. They would continue to control the tempo offensively and a free throw by Allen at the 8:04 mark then put the home team up by 20 at 53-33.
The Rainbow Wahine proved to be too much down the stretch, scoring 13 of the game's final 23 points to claim the win.
The Bulldogs conclude their week-long road trip on Saturday when they face rival San Jose State (7-8, 3-3 WAC) at 7 p.m.
