Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Long Island
Women's Hoops Cruises Past Long Island, 74-64
12/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2004
LONG ISLAND, N.Y.- Fresno State's Mirenda Swearengin scored a game-high 21 points and Aritta Lane notched a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in a 74-64 win over Long Island on Monday night at the Schwartz Center.
Fresno State (8-1) shot a season-best 50-percent overall, while Long Island (4-4) made 45.5-percent of its attempts. The Bulldogs were aided by a 41-25 edge on the glass and benefited from an aggressive trapping defense in the second half.
The Bulldogs, who defeated Manhattan 68-59 on Friday night, have now won two straight games following a loss to No. 20 UCLA last weekend that disrupted a six-game winning streak to begin the season.
Cophie Moore added a season-high nine points for the `Dogs in addition to pulling down seven rebounds. Sara Oblak led Manhattan with 20 points.
Both teams shot 47-percent for the first half, translating into low rebound totals and a 40-40 halftime score. There were five lead changes and four ties in the first 20 minutes.
Long Island jumped out to an early 9-7 lead before Fresno State responded with an 18-7 scoring run that spanned just over six minutes. A three-pointer from Swearengin, who led the `Dogs with 14 first-half points, gave the Bulldogs their largest lead at 25-16 with 10:00 remaining.
The Blackbirds then tallied 10 unanswered points, taking a 26-25 advantage following a turn-around jumper from Oberc at the 6:36 mark. Oberc would prove to be a problem for the Bulldogs, as she made seven of nine attempts from the field and finished the first half with 15 points.
Long Island held its lead until just over two minutes remaining in the first half, when Swearengin converted on a lay-up following a steal to give the Bulldogs a 34-33 edge. The teams would continue to trade baskets to close out the half.
Fresno State turned up its defensive pressure to begin the second half and at the midway point had built its first double-digit lead. A put-back from Lane gave the Bulldogs a 50-43 edge at the 15:51 mark and a Veronica Mack three-pointer with just over 10 minutes left pushed Fresno State's lead to double-digits for the first time at 59-47.
The Bulldogs continued to press the Blackbirds, resulting in several steal and fast-break scoring opportunities. At one stretch, Fresno State received lay-ups on three consecutive possessions from Lane, Cophie Moore and Swearengin- all of which were the result of a stifling Bulldog press. The final lay-up from Swearengin put Fresno State up by 18 points at 67-49 with 7:34 on the clock.
Long Island used a 13-4 scoring spurt to cut Fresno State's lead to 71-62 with 1:23 remaining in the game, however the Bulldogs were able to hang on for the win.
After a break for the holidays, Fresno State opens WAC play on the road. The Bulldogs face Hawai'i on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 9 p.m. PST and play at San Jose State on Jan. 1.
FRESNO STATE-LONG ISLAND GAME NOTES:
- Long Island plays its home games in the 1,000-seat Schwartz Center. The on-campus arena has a famous distinction. The Schwartz Center once served as the home to the original Brooklyn Paramount Theatre from 1928-1962. Show biz immortals such as Frank Sinatra, Little Richard, Mae West and Bing Crosby have all performed in the building.
- Fresno State held a 41-25 edge on the boards, marking the fifth time this year the club has outrebounded its opponents. The Bulldogs are 5-0 when that happens.
- Tierre Wilson, who led the Bulldogs with 12 points in a win over Manhattan three nights ago in her first game of the year, scored three points in nine minutes.
- The Bulldogs have now won seven straight road games, dating back to last season when the team won its final three away from Fresno. In fact, Fresno State's last road loss came in a 45-38 defeat to UTEP in El Paso on Feb. 12, 2004.
- Monday's high temperature in New York was listed at 20 degrees, making it one of the coldest days of the calendar year. The area received light snow late Sunday night, making for icy conditions on Monday morning.
