Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
<li> UTEP
Women's Basketball Cruises Past UTEP, 64-39
2/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2003
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State avenged an early-season loss to UTEP with a blowout of its own on Thursday night, breezing past the Miners 64-39 at the North Gym. The Bulldogs, who were defeated 90-68 by UTEP back on Jan. 11, improve to 11-9 overall and 5-5 in the WAC.
The 'Dogs have now won two in a row for the first time since downing Saint Mary's and Rice back on Dec.30 and Jan. 2. Additionally, the back-to-back conference victories are Fresno State's first since the 1997-1998 season when it defeated Tulsa, San Jose State and Wyoming in three straight contests.
The story of Thursday night's contest proved to be the defense, which limited UTEP (9-11, 4-6 WAC) to just 22.7-percent shooting overall at 15-66. The Miners scored just 11 first half points after making just 4-31 and were held to 39 points overall- the fewest points allowed to an opponent at the North Gym.
Senior Lindsay Logan (Sandy, Utah) scored a team-leading 13 points, while fellow senior Omelogo Udeze (Los Angeles) pulled down a season-high 15 rebounds to go along with eight points. Sophomore Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.) chipped in with 11.
The Bulldogs were in control throughout the entire first half, racing out to an 11-point lead after a basket by Udeze to make it 16-5 with 11:25 to go. After the Miners scored back-to-back buckets, the 'Dogs answered with an 11-2 run to make it 27-9 before UTEP would score again.
Two free throws by Udeze at the conclusion of the half gave Fresno State its largest lead of the period at 21, heading into the locker room with a commanding 32-11 lead. UTEP made just 4-31 and failed to connect on all seven three-point attempts.
The second half featured more of the same, with the Bulldogs holding a double-digit lead for all 20 minutes. After UTEP opened the half with a 10-7 scoring run, Fresno State's Chanie Sutherland (Odessa, Texas) nailed a triple to put the 'Dogs back up by 21 at 42-21 with 11:20 on the clock.
UTEP would continue to struggle from the floor, making just 11-35 in the second half and hitting 2-13 three-point attempts on the evening overall.
A Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) jumper in the lane gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the night- 26 points- with 23 seconds remaining for a 63-37 edge.
Fresno State has now won its last three games by an average of 20 points. The Bulldogs will look to make it three in a row when it takes on Boise State this Saturday at 2 p.m. in the North Gym.
