Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
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Women's Hoops Wins Home Finale Over Nevada, 63-44
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2004
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State placed three players in double-figures, led by Aritta Lane's 15 points, during a 63-44 victory over Nevada on Saturday night in front of a program-record crowd of 5,237 in the final home game of the year.
Also scoring in double figures were freshman Chantella Perera (12 points, four three-pointers) and senior Mindy Clark (11 points, nine rebounds). Junior Veronica Mack (Phoenix, Ariz.) added six points and six assists.
The Bulldogs are now 11-15 overall and 5-11 in WAC play. Nevada drops to 3-23 overall and 2-14 in league competition. Fresno State, which will serve as the site for the 2004 McCaffrey WAC Tournament, closed out the regular season with a 7-6 home record.
Fresno State used sizeable scoring runs at the start of both halves to help dispatch of Nevada, which dressed only eight players. The Bulldogs held a 47-39 edge on the boards and shot 37.8-percent compared to Nevada's mark of 31.5-percent.
Fresno State jumped out to a 14-2 lead to begin the game, highlighted by eight points from Clark. That turned out to be the most impressive offensive stretch of the opening period, as the Bulldogs shot 25.6-percent and the Wolf Pack checked in at 29.6-percent. The two teams were a combined 0-20 from beyond the arc in the half.
What followed for the Bulldogs was a cold-shooting spell that spanned seven minutes and allowed Nevada to climb within 14-11 after Shermeka Henry knocked down the second of two free throws with 6:35 remaining in the half.
Fresno State extended its lead to 20-13, only to see the Wolf Pack score back-to-back baskets in the final minutes to make it 20-17 at intermission.
Much like the first half, the 'Dogs opened the second period on a 12-2 scoring run to make it 32-19 with 16:23 to play. Eight points from Lane helped Fresno State pad its lead.
Perera knocked down the game's first three-pointer with 15:47 remaining in the second half, increasing Fresno State's lead to 35-19. The triple was Perera's first field goal of the night after starting the game 0-8.
Fresno State stretched its lead to 22 points on two different occasions, the second following a jumper by senior Chanie Sutherland (Odessa, Texas) to go up 48-26 with 10:23 on the clock.
Fresno State travels to San Jose State for its next contest on Thursday, Mar. 4 at 7 p.m.
