Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
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Women's Hoops Shut Down By Rice, 97-55
1/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2004
HOUSTON- Rice shot 53.5-percent overall and placed five players in double-figures in a 97-55 rout of Fresno State, dealing the Bulldogs their fifth loss in a row and worst since the 2000-01 season.
The Owls (8-7, 5-1 WAC) had every eligible player score at least one basket in the victory, while the Bulldogs (7-10, 1-6 WAC) were led by freshman Brittani Green (Dallas, Texas) with a career-high 14 points.
Shooting proved to be the key, as Rice not only connected on 38 of 71 shot attempts but was also a red-hot 9-14 from beyond the arc. Fresno State shot 31-percent overall, was just 4-12 from the three-point line and knocked down 15 of 23 free throw attempts.
The loss was Fresno State's worst since a 37-point defeat at Arizona back on Dec. 10, 2000, when the Wildcats won 92-55. In addition, the Bulldog's current five-game losing skid is the club's first since the end of the 2001-02 campaign.
The Owls maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the first period, spurred on by 62.9-percent shooting. Rice made 22 of 35 shots from the field, converted on six of nine three-point attempts and 11 of its 12 eligible players score at least one basket.
Rice was in control from the opening tip, racing out to a 14-2 lead before the game's first media timeout was taken at 15:43.
Five minutes later, the Owls stretched their lead to 21 following a successful three-point play from Anne Peck. After a lay-up by sophomore Lauren Selmon (Norman, Okla.) on the ensuing possession, Rice's Kate Beckler answered with a quick three-pointer to put the Owls back up by 20.
Rice would proceed to close out the half on a 27-15 scoring run, ending the period with a 31-point lead. Back-to-back baskets by Selmon and freshman Jasmine Plummer (Sacramento, Calif.) late in the half represented the only consecutive scores for Fresno State in the final 10 minutes.
Fresno State played much better in the second half, getting outscored only 42-31.
Three freshmen- Green, Plummer and Paige Diggs (Amarillo, Texas) led the Bulldogs in minutes played for the second straight game. Plummer played a game-high 31 minutes, while Green followed with 30 and Diggs checking in at 21.
Junior Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.) chipped in with nine points- all on three-pointers. Green and Plummer both tallied seven rebounds.
Fresno State continues its road trip on Saturday afternoon at Tulsa. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. PST.
