Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Travels To San Francisco Tuesday
12/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Dec. 19, 2005
Fresno State Bulldogs (6-3) at
San Francisco Dons (4-6)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 20
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: San Francisco, Calif.
Facility: War Memorial Gym (5,300)
Series History: San Francisco leads 16-10
Last Meeting: FS 61, USF 57 (Dec. 14, 2002 at Fresno)
Radio: 1430 ESPN (play-by-play: Brian Risso)
Tip-Off
Fresh off what many consider to be one of the biggest victories in recent memory, Fresno State (6-3) heads out on the road for the first time in two weeks. The comforts of playing at home translated into a 3-1 record during the Bulldog's recent four-game homestand, including Saturday's 81-70 victory over Arizona, a 2005 NCAA Tournament team which entered last week ranked No. 28 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. Now the Bulldogs switch their attention to San Francisco (4-6), which has won two straight games. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at War Memorial Gym on Tuesday night.
Media Memo
Tuesday's game can be heard live on 1430 ESPN Radio. Assistant media relations director Brian Risso handles the broadcasting chores.
Scouting San Francisco
San Francisco (4-6) closes out a four-game homestand when it hosts Fresno State on Tuesday night. The Dons defeated Denver 64-59 in their most recent contest, improving to 4-2 in home games. While San Francisco might be sporting a sub-.500 record, the Dons have been competitive against two of the nation's top programs. In the season opener, San Francisco dropped an 80-62 decision at Minnesota. One week later in the championship game of its own home tournament, the Dons rallied back from a 15-point deficit but fell short against Oklahoma, 53-51. San Francisco is averaging 61.4 points per game and allowing 62.5. The Dons are shooting 44.2-percent for the season but only 28.6-percent from three-point territory. Players to watch include: Dominique Carter (14.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and Nickie Warren (9.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Head coach Mary Hile-Nepfel enters her 19th season on the hilltop.
Fresno State All-Time vs. San Francisco
San Francisco leads the all-time series 16-10. Fresno State snapped a three-game losing streak with a 61-57 victory in the most recent meeting between the two schools on Dec. 14, 2002. Prior to that triumph, the Bulldogs had not won in the series since 1987. Fresno State is 3-11 all-time in games played at San Francisco and has not defeated the Dons on the road since Dec. 12, 1987.
Welcome Back
Guards Mirenda Swearengin and Tierre Wilson, who sat out the fall semester after being ruled academically ineligible, made immediate contributions in their first game back last weekend in the 81-70 win against Arizona. Perhaps most importantly, the return of Swearengin and Wilson allowed the Bulldogs to play at an up-tempo pace similar to the first two games of the year when Fresno State reached the 90-point mark. Swearengin started and played 28 minutes, scoring 14 points with six rebounds and four assists. In 29 minutes of action off the bench, Wilson registered her first career double-double with personal-bests of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Both players finished 4-6 from the foul line.
Tella's Three-Point Barrage
Fresno State's three-point shooters might have struggled out of the gate but that is beginning to change, in large part thanks to Chantella Perera. Through the first four games of the year, the Bulldogs had made 21 triples overall. However, Perera has connected on 19-38 three-point attempts over the last five games, including a season-best five treys against San Diego on Dec. 5. As a result, Perera leads the `Dogs with 22 three-pointers and ranks fourth in the WAC. Trailing Perera in the three-point category is Amy Parrish, who has knocked down 10 of 28 attempts.
Post Player Production
With opposing defenses focusing on Amy Parrish, Fresno State's other post players have excelled in the early going. Four players are currently boasting a field-goal percentage of 50-percent or better. Leading the group is Jasmine Plummer, who is shooting 57.1-percent (16-28) while leading the team in assists, steals and blocks. Erica Henry, who scored only 17 points in 15 games as a freshman, is averaging 5.7 ppg and 3.3 rpg while shooting 55.2-percent. Brittani Green has started five games and is shooting 54.8-percent while scoring 5.4 points and pulling down 3.3 rebounds per game. Andrea Roberson, who is averaging just 10.8 minutes, is shooting 53.8-percent and has posted totals of 4.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg. She ranks third on the club in rebounds and second in offensive boards with 23.
Winning The Rebound Battle
Fresno State has earned a reputation as a solid rebounding club in recent seasons and this year is no different. The Bulldogs, who have outrebounded their opponent in all but two games, are averaging 44.7 boards per game while allowing only 33.7. That's a difference of +11, a mark that leads the WAC. Fresno State has pulled down at least 50 boards in a game on four different occasions, including a season-best 58 at Utah Valley State. Amy Parrish leads the club with 8.4 rpg while four players (Amy Parrish, Jasmine Plummer, Chantella Perera, Andrea Roberson) are averaging at least four boards per contest.
Making A State-Ment
Since the start of the 2002-03 season, the Bulldogs have performed very well against California schools, notching a 21-4 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 is 4-1 so far in such games this year.
Winning Big With Wiggins
The Bulldogs have posted a 13-7 overall record under the direction of head coach Adrian Wiggins, who has been at the helm of the `Dogs since Feb. 9, 2005. In those 20 games, Fresno State has tallied some impressive wins. Of the 13 victories under Wiggins, 11 have been of the double-digit variety. Fresno State has also registered a 10-1 record in games played at the Save Mart Center under Wiggins' guidance, with the only loss coming in the form of a 68-52 loss at the hands of No. 10 Arizona State on Dec. 15.
Plummer Gives `Dogs A Lift
One of three players to start every game, Jasmine Plummer continues to develop into a solid all-around player in the Bulldog lineup. She is averaging only 3.8 points per game but her contributions in transition and on defense are invaluable. Plummer currently ranks second on the squad in rebounding (5.6 per game) and leads the team in assists (3.1 per game). In addition, she is the team-leader in blocked shots (16) and steals (19) while shooting 57.1-percent. Despite being such a factor on offense, she is only 2-2 from the free throw line through nine games.
Parrish The Thought
Amy Parrish is doing her best to provide an encore to last season's impressive campaign in which she garnered first-team All-WAC honors. The senior forward has been the Bulldog's dominant force early on as she leads the team with 15.4 ppg while pulling down 8.4 rpg. She has scored in double-figures in all but one game, her field-goal percentage stands at 46.6-percent and she has even knocked down 10-28 three-point attempts. Against Utah Valley State on Nov. 26, she snagged a career-best 18 rebounds.
