Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
<li>Boise State
Women's Hoops Wins Overtime Thriller 77-75; Perera Scores 25
2/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2004
BOISE, Idaho- Veronica Mack's lay-up with 3.8 seconds remaining in overtime lifted Fresno State to a thrilling 77-75 victory over Boise State on Saturday afternoon at BSU Pavilion.Fresno State (9-14, 3-10 WAC), which picked up its first WAC road win of the year and first road victory since Dec. 19, found itself in position to win largely because of a career-high shooting performance from freshman Chatella Perera (Wantirna, Victoria, Australia). Perera was 7-15 from beyond the arc and poured in a game-high 25 points in just her eighth game since joining the team back in January.
"Chantella Perera was simply a warrior for us this afternoon," said head coach Stacy Johnson-Klein. "She was our emotional spark today and knocked down big three-point shots every time we needed one. I thought Chantella's performance took the pressure off Veronica and Mindy and allowed us to perform better as a team."
Overall, the Bulldogs were 11-36 from the three-point line, establishing a single-game record for three-point field goals attempted. Mack was 3-16 from three-point land and finished with 17 points and four assists. Mack's 16 three-point attempts matched a program record for most triples in a single game.
Senior Mindy Clark (La Habra, Calif.) recorded her sixth double-double of the year, pulling down a career-best 16 boards to go with 14 points. Clark's 16 rebounds helped give Fresno State a commanding 53-50 advantage in the rebounding department. Freshman Jasmine Plummer (Sacramento, Calif.) tallied seven rebounds and 10 points.
With Fresno State leading 64-61 late in the second half, Boise State's Lynnette Grondin calmly knocked down a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining in regulation to force the overtime session.
The Bulldogs then outscored the Broncos (7-15, 4-9 WAC) 13-11 in the overtime period to earn the victory, despite trailing by four points with one minute remaining.
Cassidy Blaine led four Boise State players in double figures with 21 points.
In the first half, Boise State led by as many as seven points on two different occasions only to see Fresno State battle back. The Broncos shot 44.8-percent from the field compared to the Bulldog's mark of 35.3-percent in the first period. However, a 23-14 edge on the glass and five three-pointers allowed Fresno State to hang close for the half.
After a basket by senior Chantea Fleming (Chino Hills, Calif.) knotted the game at 13-13, Boise State scored seven unanswered points for its first seven-point lead of the contest.
Two possessions later, the Bulldogs cut the lead to 20-18 following a three-pointer from Perera- one of 20 three-point shots attempted by Fresno State in the opening period.
Four straight baskets by Michelle Hessing increased Boise State's lead to 28-21 with 5:02 remaining before Fresno State closed out the half on a 9-2 run that included six points from Plummer.
After two lead changes to open the second half, Perera knocked down a three-pointer to give Fresno State a 38-37 lead with 14:51 to play.
Boise State stormed back with its largest scoring run of the game, an 18-8 stretch that resulted in a 55-46 Bronco lead with 7:47 remaining.
The Bulldogs responded with a 13-4 run that was highlighted by five points from Clark and eight from Perera, who capped the run with a three-pointer to tie the game at 59-59 with 4:00 on the clock.
With the score tied again under two minutes at 61-61, Perera knocked down her sixth three of the game to give the Bulldogs a 64-61 lead with 1:02 left in regulation. However, a charge call on Plummer gave possession back to the Broncos. That's when Grondin stepped up and answered with a triple from the corner with 11 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Boise State took a four-point lead in the overtime period following a three-pointer from Cariann Ramirez, going up 74-70 with 56.9 left to play.
A lay-up from Mack made it 74-72 and the Bulldogs then fouled Boise State's Heather Little, who connected on one of two free throw attempts to increase the Broncos' lead to 75-72 with 43.7 seconds left.
Perera then responded with her seventh triple of the game to deadlock the game at 75-75 with 33.7 seconds left.
Boise State misfired on two three-point attempts in the final 30 seconds and Fleming grabbed the rebound to set up a final possession for the 'Dogs. Mack then drove through the defense for the game-winning lay-up.
The Bulldogs return home for a two-game homestand next week, beginning with a game against Tulsa on Thursday, Feb. 19.
