Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Fresno Pacific In Exhibiton
11/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 6, 2005
Tip-Off
The 41st season of Fresno State women's basketball gets underway this week with the first of two exhibitions. In tonight's match-up, the Bulldogs host crosstown rival Fresno Pacific. This will be the third straight season that the two schools have squared off and while Fresno State has posted double-digit victories in the first two meetings, the Sunbirds have been competitive and traditionally bring a large fan base. The Bulldogs open the regular season on Nov. 18 at UC Irvine.
Red/White Scrimmage Recap
The Fresno State men's and women's basketball teams entertained fans on Nov. 5 during the Red/White scrimmage. In addition to scrimmages for both teams, fans witnessed a co-ed two-ball contest and slam dunk contest. After player introductions, head coaches Steve Cleveland and Adrian Wiggins addressed the crowd and gave a brief outlook on their team. In the women's scrimmage, the white team edged the red team 33-25.
Quick Look Back
Fresno State finished 20-11 last year, representing a six-game improvement from the previous season's mark of 13-16. The Bulldogs also finished fourth in WAC play at 10-8, reached the semifinals of the conference tournament and made their second postseason WNIT appearance in three years. Not bad for a squad that posted a 3-5 record in January, went winless at home for almost two months and experienced a coaching change in late February.
We've Got A New Look
Adrian Wiggins begins his first season as head coach on an interim basis and fourth overall with the program. Assistants Calamity McEntire and Drew Champagne are back for a second season while Brett Frank, who served as an assistant coach from 2002-04, returns as the lead assistant.
Coaches, Media Agree: Bulldogs Picked To Finish Second In 2005-06
Fresno State has been picked to finish second by the coaches and media in the 2005-06 preseason WAC polls. Louisiana Tech, the four-time defending regular-season champions, was the consensus choice to win the WAC in both polls. In the coaches' poll, Fresno State (54 points) was second and earned a first-place vote, followed by San Jose State (49), Idaho (44) and Hawai'i (39).
2005-06 Preseason All-WAC First Team (coaches poll)
- Lamisha Augustine, Sr., F, San Jose State
- Emily Faurholt, So., G, Idaho
- Amber Jackson, So., F, San Jose State
- Shan Moore, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech
- Tasha Williams, Sr., G, Louisiana Tech (WAC Player of the Year)
2005-06 Preseason All-WAC Second Team (coaches poll)
- Tamika Kursh, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech
- Leilani Mitchell, Jr., G, Idaho
- Amy Parrish, Sr., F, Fresno State
- Amy Sanders, Sr., G/F, Hawai'i
- Mirenda Swearengin, Sr., G, Fresno State
2005-06 Preseason All-WAC Team (media poll)
- Lamisha Augustine, Sr., F, San Jose State
- Emily Faurholt, So., G, Idaho
- Amber Jackson, So., F, San Jose State
- Amy Parrish, Sr., F, Fresno State
- Tasha Williams, Sr., G, Louisiana Tech (WAC Player of the Year)
Quick Glance At The Schedule
In addition to competing in the new-look Western Athletic Conference, Fresno State will face six schools that participated in last year's NCAA Tournament when the 2005-06 season opens in November. The Bulldogs, who in the last three seasons have squared off against the likes of Michigan State, Baylor, Utah and UCLA, will play a strong non-conference schedule once again. Five of Fresno State's 12 non-league games are against 2005 NCAA Tournament schools (Stanford, Texas Tech, Arizona State, Arizona and Santa Clara) while the Bulldogs resume their usual home-and-home series with four-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech.
Guard Position Features Depth, Experience
Even though all 10 guards bring 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. 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. However, both Swearengin and Wilson will miss the fall semester due to academic reasons. 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. Junior guard Jasmine Plummer appears a lock for a starting job. Paige Diggs, who has shown flashes of brilliance at times without the luxury of playing a lot of minutes, could also play the point.
Post Players Provide Additional Scoring
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. The loss of Aritta 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. Senior Faith Probst is the squad's only four-year player and she figures to supply the Bulldogs with additional depth. Junior transfer Andrea Roberson and freshman Stevie Hagemeister will receive playing time.
