Fresno State Athletics
Three-Game, Six-Day Stretch Begins With Texas Southern Tonight
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Nov. 21, 2005
Texas Southern Tigers (0-1) vs.
Fresno State Bulldogs (1-0)
Date: Monday, Nov. 21
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Facility: Save Mart Center (16,116)
Series History: First Meeting
Television: Comcast Cable (ch. 14)
Radio: ESPN 1430 AM
Tip-Off
Fresno State (1-0) prepares for one of the busiest weeks on its 2005-06 schedule as the Bulldogs will play three games over the next six days. The action gets underway this evening when Fresno State hosts Texas Southern (0-1) in its home opener at the Save Mart Center. Tip-off for that contest is set for 7 p.m. Two days later, Fresno State faces off against nationally-ranked Stanford (1-1) at Maples Pavilion for the first time since 1988. Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Bulldogs head out to Orem, Utah for a game against Utah Valley State (0-1) on Saturday night.
Two-For-One Admission vs. Texas Southern
Fans can redeem a two-for-one coupon for one free general admission ticket to tonight's game against Texas Southern with the purchase of a ticket of equal or greater value. This offer is good on the day of game only. Coupons are available online at www.gobulldogs.com, the Bulldog Shop or the Fresno State Ticket Office. Coupons must be redeemed at the Save Mart Center.
Scouting Texas Southern
Texas Southern finished last year 5-23 overall and 5-13 in the SWAC, good for ninth place. The Tigers played two exhibition games before falling 72-61 to Pacific in their season opener on the road last Friday. In recent news, the Tigers have been picked to finish eighth overall in the SWAC preseason poll while Monica Okolo (10.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 58 steals) was tabbed a second team selection. Texas Southern will be hoping to avoid starting off slowly once again, as the Tigers dropped their first 11 games to being 2004-05 and 15 of 16 overall. Texas Southern was dispatched 72-44 by Alcorn State in the opening round of the SWAC Tournament last season. The Tigers open this year with three straight road games before coming home on Dec. 1 to host Texas College.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Texas Southern
Fresno State and Texas Southern will be playing a women's basketball game against each other for the first time.
Last Week's Recent Action
Fresno State 93, UC Irvine 84 (Nov. 19, 2005)
Fresno State reached the 90-point plateau for the first time in two years and converted 35 of 42 free throw attempts in a 93-84 victory over UC Irvine in the season opener for both teams. Four players scored in double-figures, led by Amy Parrish with 20 points and nine rebounds. Paige Diggs poured in a career-high 18 points, including a 12-13 mark from the free throw line. Chantella Perera added 17 and Toni Atherley chipped in with a career-high 11 points and eight rebounds. Fresno State's 93 points represented the team's highest point total since a 96-80 victory over San Jose State on Feb. 20, 2003. The Bulldogs were able to attain that 90-point total thanks to an impressive 35-42 clip from the charity stripe. 24 of the free throws came in the second half. Conversely, the Anteaters made only 18 of 36 from the foul line. Fresno State dominated the boards, holding a 50-29 edge. Five players tallied at least five rebounds, led by Parrish with nine.
Making A State-Ment
Since the start of the 2002-03 season, the Bulldogs have performed very well against California schools, notching an 18-3 mark. Quite a turnaround, considering the Bulldogs were just 9-14 against teams from the Golden State over the combined three previous seasons (1999-2002). Fresno State's 93-84 win over UC Riverside last weekend makes the `Dogs 1-0 this year. In 2004-05, the Bulldogs went 5-1 by defeating Pepperdine, Santa Clara, San Diego and San Jose State twice.
Picking Up The Slack
With starting point guard Mirenda Swearengin and valuable reserve Tierre Wilson unavailable to compete during the fall semester due to academic reasons, many were wondering how things would shape up for Fresno State in the backcourt. If Fresno State's 93-84 win over UC Irvine in the season opener was any indication, the Bulldogs should be in good hands. Paige Diggs (18 points, 12-13 from the free throw line) and Toni Atherley (11 points, eight rebounds) enjoyed career-best performances while Chantella Perera- one of three returning starters- poured in 17 points. Those three guards, along with Jasmine Plummer, provide stability at the guard position.
Fresno State All-Time At The Save Mart Center
Fresno State has compiled a 17-12 overall record in games played at the Save Mart Center since the arena opened in 2003. The Bulldog's inaugural season in the arena produced several school attendance records, including a No. 19 national ranking in average home attendance and the third-largest yearly increase among all other DIvision 1 programs. Last year, Fresno State ranked 22nd in both total and average attendance and a record crowd of 7,042 witnessed the Bulldog's 58-38 win over Pepperdine in the season opener.
