Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
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Women's Basketball Routs Nevada 71-48
2/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2003
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State outscored Nevada 45-27 in the second half and shot 47.7-percent in a convincing 71-48 victory over the Wolf Pack on Saturday afternoon in the North Gym.
The Bulldogs (10-9, 4-5 WAC) snap a three-game losing streak with the win, as the squad reaches the 10-win plateau for the first time in two years with nine regular season games remaining.
"I was real pleased with our intensity and energy today," said head coach Stacy Johnson-Klein. "These girls worked really hard all week and wanted to rebound with a performance like this after losing three in a row. This was an important victory for our team to help set the tone for the second half of the year."
Three players scored in double-figures for the 'Dogs, led by sophomore Aritta Lane (Aiea, Hawaii) with 13. Junior Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds, while senior Omelogo Udeze (Los Angeles, Calif.) added 10 off the bench.
Nevada's Ashley Bastian almost single-handedly kept the Wolf Pack in the game, leading all scorers with 19 points (3-5 from three-point territory) and knocking down several off-balance shots.
The Bulldogs, who won just nine games overall in 2001-02, went into halftime clinging to a 26-21 advantage but took control in the second half by making 18-32 for 56.3-percent. Nevada led twice in the first half, going up 12-11 after a jumper by Kate Smith at the 8:30 mark as both squads struggled to find their shot. But the Bulldogs would maintain the lead for the rest of the contest and cruise to the victory.
Two free throws by Lane at the 5:25 mark gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the first half at 21-13. Nevada then answered by scoring eight of the next 13 points to put themselves within five at 26-21 at the break.
After the Wolf Pack opened the second period with a 7-4 scoring run, the Bulldogs slowly took command. After a basket by Tiffany Simon (Detroit, Mich.) gave the 'Dogs a 36-28 edge, Nevada's Bastian countered to bring the Wolf Pack back within six. Fresno State would go on to score the next five baskets, capped off by a three-pointer from Lane with 10:49 to go for a 47-30 lead. Bastian ended the run with two free throws, but the Bulldogs responded with a trey from Johnson to extend the lead to 18 at 50-32.
The hot shooting would continue- both from three-point territory and the free throw line- and Fresno States finished off the Wolf Pack by scoring 21 of the game's final 37 points. The Bulldogs largest lead of the day reached 24 on two occasions- once after a Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.) lay-up and again on a bucket by Cophie Moore (Arlington, Texas).
Fresno State continues its three-game homestand next Thursday when it hosts UTEP at 7 p.m. in the North Gym.
