Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Denver
Women's Hoops Gets Defensive, Downs Denver 53-50
12/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Dec. 30, 2003
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State, despite committing a season-high 33 turnovers, managed to squeeze out a 53-50 non-conference victory over Denver on Tuesday night at the Save Mart Center.
Freshman Jasmine Plummer (Natomas, Calif.) grabbed four key rebounds and added two free throws down the stretch to help preserve the win. She finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, while junior Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the Bulldogs with 14 points.
The Bulldogs wrap up non-conference play at 6-4, equaling last year's mark in non-league action.
Both teams struggled all evening, with Denver (6-4) committing 29 turnovers to bring the game total to 62. Fresno State had not made 30 turnovers in a contest since committing 33 in a loss against Arizona back on Dec. 10, 2000.
What helped the Bulldogs was a solid shooting percentage of 53.5-percent, compared to Denver's mark of 33.8. The Pioneers were able to make it a one-possession game with a chance to tie at the end of regulation, only to have the clock run out.
Fresno State's 3-14 mark from the free throw line- with all three conversions occurring in the final four minutes of the game- also helped Denver's cause. The Pioneers were just 0-1 from the charity stripe.
The two clubs traded baskets over the first 10 minutes of the game. Denver led just twice in the game, going up 20-19 with 4:03 left in the first half following a basket by Jamie Edwards.
However, the Bulldogs embarked on a 10-3 scoring run to close out the half and never trailed for the rest of the game.
In the second half Fresno State stretched its lead to as many as 13 points, going up 38-25 with 14:15 on the clock after a putback by senior Mindy Clark (La Habra, Calif.). Clark finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Denver continued to chip away at the Bulldog's lead in the second period, as foul shooting and turnovers plagued Fresno State late in the game.
Ragan Neblett, who along with Stephanie Hart led the Pioneers with 14 points, made a triple with 1:32 remaining to inch Denver closer at 51-48.
Plummer's rebound and two free throws with 42 seconds left iced the victory for the 'Dogs.
The Bulldogs wrap up non-conference play at 6-4, equaling last year's mark. Fresno State opens WAC play on Saturday, Jan. 3, against Hawai'i at 1 p.m. at the Save Mart Center. The three-game homestand concludes on Monday, Jan. 5, against San Jose State at 7 p.m.
