Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
<li> Rice
Bulldogs Clipped By Rice, 63-59
1/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2005
FRESNO, Calif.- Rice (10-7, 3-3 WAC) shot a blistering 66.7-percent in the second half to pull away from Fresno State (11-5, 3-4 WAC) in a 63-59 victory on Thursday night at the Save Mart Center.The Lady Owls outscored the Bulldogs 39-33 over the final 20 minutes and countered every Fresno State basket with one of its own down the stretch. Rice was led by center Lauren Neaves, who scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half and added 13 rebounds for a double-double. Krystal Frazier also scored in double-figures for Rice, adding 14.
Fresno State, which lost for the first time this year when leading at the half (26-24), had a chance to force overtime after Krystal Frazier's second free throw put Rice up 62-59 with 13 seconds remaining. Kendra Walker-Roche appeared to draw contact on a potential three-pointer to tie the game, however no foul was called and Rice added another free throw to seal the win- its fourth in a row over Fresno State.
Amy Parrish scored a game-high 20 points (9-12 from the foul line) and recorded six of Fresno State's season-high 18 steals. Jasmine Plummer, celebrating her 20th birthday, nearly recorded a double-double with a season-high 14 points and nine boards. Paige Diggs chipped in with seven.
Each team missed eight free throw attempts, with Fresno State shooting 16-24 and Rice 12-20. The Bulldogs held a 35-32 rebounding edge over the taller Lady Owls, but shot just 33.9-percent compared to the Lady Owls' 50-percent clip.
There were 49 combined turnovers in the contest and 26 by Rice, several of which were a result of an aggressive trapping defense by Fresno State.
Rice scored 15 of the game's first 21 points and led 20-13 with 8:52 remaining following two free throws from Krystal Frazier. An eight-minute scoring drought came next for the Lady Owls, who watched the `Dogs reel off a 12-0 run that was punctuated by a three-pointer from Mirenda Swearengin. Leading 25-20 at that point, Fresno State took a 26-24 edge into the break.
Plummer then went to work for the Bulldogs. After scoring just two points in the first half, she scored Fresno State's first 10 points to open the second. Plummer's final basket during that stretch gave the Bulldogs a 36-35 advantage, which would turn out to be the team's final lead of the contest.
Anne Peck's put-back gave Rice a 37-36 edge with 13:53 to play and the Lady Owls stretched their lead to 44-38 two minutes later.
Fresno State managed to close to within two at 50-48, following a jumper from Parrish at the 6:58 mark.
Two free throws from Neaves gave Rice a 59-52 cushion, but Fresno State battled to make it a one-possession game with 13 seconds on the clock. Walker-Roche's three-point attempt came up short and a free throw from Eshombi Singleton sealed the victory.
Fresno State next plays Tulsa on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. at the Save Mart Center.
