Fresno State Athletics
2005-06 Women's Basketball Outlook
10/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 20, 2005
FRESNO, Calif.- It could be said that last year's Fresno State women's basketball team put together a "quiet" 20-win season, considering the Bulldogs: posted a 3-5 record in January, went nearly two months without winning a home game and experienced a coaching change with just three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Anything the Bulldogs accomplish this year might not be so low-key, with four starters returning from a 2004-05 squad that finished 20-11 overall and qualified for the WNIT for the second time in three seasons.
With 12 of the 17 players on this year's roster being upperclassmen, depth and experience appear to be on the Bulldog's side. That being said, the pieces are in place for Fresno State to challenge for a conference title and set its sights on a return to the postseason.
"I am extremely excited about our potential this year," said Adrian Wiggins, who enters his first year as Fresno State's head coach on an interim basis after guiding the club to a 7-4 ledger in the final 11 games of last year's campaign. "I thought that our team really gelled during the final month of last year and that same chemistry factored into our late-season surge. With everyone now basically on the same page, I think this team can achieve great things and we are all looking forward to the upcoming season."
One reason for anticipation is the fact that Fresno State will be competing in a revamped Western Athletic Conference. The 2005-06 conference slate will have a new look, as Rice, Tulsa, SMU and UTEP are all now members of Conference USA. Into the mix are newcomers Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State, which join traditional rivals Boise State, Hawai'i, Louisiana Tech, Nevada and San Jose State.
"It will be interesting to see how the conference race plays out," said Wiggins, now in his fourth year overall at Fresno State after spending the first three as the lead assistant coach. "Louisiana Tech is still around and while they are always very tough, I think we have displayed our ability to be competitive with them on the court. I also would expect to see some other programs continue to flourish, realizing that this might be their year."
The Bulldogs will be tested early and often, with six schools that participated in last year's NCAA Tournament featured on the schedule. Fresno State, which in the last three seasons has squared off against the likes of Baylor, Michigan State, Utah and UCLA, will play a strong non-conference schedule in 2005-06. Five of Fresno State's 12 non-league games are against NCAA Tournament schools from a year ago (Arizona, Arizona State, Santa Clara, Stanford and Texas Tech) while the Bulldogs resume their usual home-and-home series with four-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech.
"I am excited about the schedule we have put together this year," added Wiggins. "Playing such high-caliber non-conference opponents will prepare us for what should be a challenging WAC schedule. I am also thrilled that our fans will get to watch us play some talented teams at the Save Mart Center."
The first challenge for Wiggins will be figuring out a way to offset the loss of three seniors from a year ago, including Aritta Lane, who was second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg). Lane, one of the Bulldog's most dependable post players, notched three double-doubles while leading the team in scoring on 10 different occasions.
Much of Fresno State's offensive success this year will hinge on the performances of its guards. The coaching staff will have as many as 10 guards on the roster to choose from, alternating among them in the lineup based on productivity. Even though each player brings something different to the mix, one constant remains the same- Fresno State will play at an up-tempo pace and rely on its speed and athleticism to get easy transition buckets.
Senior Mirenda Swearengin served as the Bulldog's point guard in her first collegiate season and made an immediate impact. Swearengin, who competed in every game and led the club in minutes played, averaged 10.5 points per game while leading the team in three-pointers (41), assists (128) and steals (64). She also brought an element of excitement to the court, slinging no-look passes into the post and racing up the court with lightning-quick speed.
Sophomore Tierre Wilson also brings a flashy game, as she is capable of making the jaw-dropping pass or stepping back to knock down the three-pointer. In 24 games, Wilson proved to be one of the club's most valuable reserves as she averaged 5.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg. In her collegiate debut against Manhattan, she scored a team-high 12 points in 19 minutes of action.
However, both Swearengin and Wilson will miss the fall semester due to academic reasons. Having those two players unavailable will undoubtedly affect the team but the Bulldogs are fortunate to have depth and experience at the guard position. Furthermore, the coaching staff is optimistic that some of the underclassmen will make the most of any opportunities that come their way.
Junior Chantella Perera played an important role in the Bulldog's success last year and she will once again be looked at to elevate her game. Perera averaged 8.7 ppg to go along with 3.5 rpg and ranked second on the club in three-pointers (37). She is the ideal guard for this team: a tough, hard-nosed player that is not afraid to rebound the basketball but can also pass with accuracy and shoot from the outside. Perera scored in double-figures 10 times last year.
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"Chantella now has a full year of college basketball under her belt," said Wiggins. "You will be hard-pressed to find an athlete who works harder in the offseason and prepares herself to compete. I think she can become one of our top scorers."
Another junior guard that will likely crack the starting lineup is Jasmine Plummer. What Plummer might lack in scoring, she clearly makes up for in her ability to rebound and alter or block shots. Plummer averaged 5.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg, while shooting 49.6-percent from the field and leading the team with 40 blocked shots. She also finished second on the team in steals and scored in double-figures seven times.
"Jasmine is a great player to have on your team," said Wiggins. "I know I would not want to face her if I was on the other bench. She is extremely quick, versatile and her style of play allows us to be flexibile with matchups on offense and defense. She has also taken on the role of a vocal team leader, which suits her perfectly."
Another option to replace Swearengin at the point guard position would be junior Paige Diggs, who has shown flashes of brilliance at times without the luxury of playing a lot of minutes. Diggs competed in 27 games last season- all of the bench- and averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.5 rpg. Another "rebounding guard," she hauled down a career-high nine boards in a win over Denver last year.
"We feel that with increased playing time and a clearly-defined role, Paige can be an impact player for us," said Wiggins. "She is a very athletic player who enters the year much improved and continues to give maximum effort. This could be her breakthrough year."
Senior Toni Atherley and sophomore Kendra Walker-Roche each have one season to reflect back on and will provide help in reserve roles. Atherley started seven of the 25 games she played in last year while posting averages of 1.6 ppg and 1.9 rpg. She found her stroke at the foul line, hitting 19-24. Walker-Roche is one of the Bulldog's top three-point shooters and will make opponents pay if left alone from the outside.
"Toni plays the game with so much passion and that tenacity and love for the game is what carries her through," noted Wiggins. "There were a few games last year where Kendra made a statement from the outside. She has a lot of potential on offense. Both of these players have the ability to makes plays solely off their effort."
Junior Angelica Lopez returns for another season after quickly endearing herself to the Bulldog faithful in her first two years. She saw court time in six games, the most in a single-season since joining the team as a walk-on in 2003.
"Angelica is clearly the fan favorite of our team," said Wiggins. "She works extremely hard and the coaching staff recognizes her efforts, even if it translates into minimal playing time."
Freshman Andrea Videbeck could get an outside shot at cracking the starting lineup, as she is one of the true point guards on the roster. As a senior at Mesquite High School, she averaged 13 points, six assists and five steals per game. She was a three-time all-region selection and honorable mention all-state pick.
Fresno State will look for additional scoring punch and defense from its post players, highlighted by senior Amy Parrish, a first-team All-WAC selection last year. Parrish was the Bulldog's leading scorer (13.5 ppg) and rebounder (6.9 rpg), made 47-percent from the field and 69-percent from the foul line. She recorded four double-doubles and scored in double-figures in 24 of the team's 31 games- all in her first season.
"The production Amy gave us last year was immeasurable," said Wiggins. "Once again, we will look to feature her in our offense and take advantage of her strengths in the post. She continues to work hard at her game and has matured into a leader for us. She has an opportunity to be one of the premier players in the WAC."
The loss of Lane to graduation means that one of the forward spots will be open, and an intriguing possibility is junior Brittani Green. A 6-2 forward out of Dallas, Texas, Green possesses all the tools needed to become a standout player and will also benefit from increased time on the floor. She played in all but one game last year and showed that she could be on the club's top rebounders and interior scorers.
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"When you talk about potential breakthrough seasons, Brittani comes to mind," said Wiggins. "She is working hard to develop her game and incorporate everything she has learned in the past two years into the total package this season."
Senior Faith Probst is the squad's only four-year player and figures to supply the Bulldogs with additional depth. Probst appeared in 28 games in 2004-05 and enjoyed her best performance in a victory over Santa Clara, scoring 15 points.
Junior transfer Andrea Roberson and freshman Stevie Hagemeister will receive playing time but also must adjust to the transition of Division 1 basketball. Roberson helped guide Southeastern Illinois Community College to a 31-3 record and final No. 8 national ranking last year, while Hagemeister was a three-time all-state selection and 2004 Division 3A Player of the Year while at Platte Valley High School.
There are two options at center, although the Bulldogs will only have one available for the upcoming season. Sophomore Erica Henry played in 15 games last year as a reserve and should benefit from watching post players such as Parrish and Lane. In a win over Denver, Henry tallied an eight-point, eight-rebound effort that represented her best outing.
"Erica did some impressive things for us as a freshman," said Wiggins. "I'm looking forward to watching her improve and eventually take on an increased role."
Senior Jenny Thigpin, a transfer from Arizona State and Hanford High School graduate, makes her return to the Valley. Due to NCAA transfer rules, she will not be eligible to compete this year. In her last year with the Sun Devils, Thigpin played in 33 games and averaged 7.7 minutes, 2.0 points and 1.1 rebounds.
"We're excited to have Jenny as a part of our program," said Wiggins. "She will not be able to play this year but I know we will benefit simply from having her around. She has experienced a high level of competition while in the Pac-10 and brings a lot of intangibles to our team."
