Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Tangles With Texas Tech Thursday
12/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Check out the latest edition of Tella's Tales
Dec. 27, 2005
Fresno State Bulldogs (7-3) at
Texas Tech Lady Raiders (4-6)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 29
Time: 5 p.m. PST
Site: Lubbock, Texas
Facility: United Spirit Arena (15,050)
Series History: Fresno State leads 1-0
Last Meeting: FS 78, TECH 69 (Nov. 25, 1989)
Radio: 1430 ESPN (play-by-play: Brian Risso)
Tip-Off
Fresno State, which has won two in a row and five of six overall, stands at 7-3 overall heading into Thursday's matchup at Texas Tech (4-6). Prior to the start of the season it appeared as if the Bulldogs would face their toughest test of the year against the Lady Raiders, a club that has qualified for the NCAA Tournament 16 consecutive seasons and made the Sweet 16 last year. However, the combination of Fresno State's recent surge and Texas Tech's slow start could potentially make for a competitive contest. After facing the Lady Raiders, the `Dogs return home to host Santa Clara on Monday, Jan. 2.
Media Memo
Thursday's game can be heard live on 1430 ESPN Radio. Assistant media relations director Brian Risso handles the broadcasting chores.
Scouting Texas Tech
One of six 2005 NCAA Tournament teams featured on this year's schedule, Texas Tech (4-6) plays its final non-conference game of the season when it hosts Fresno State on Thursday. The Lady Raiders' ledger of 4-6 can be deceiving: Texas Tech's non-league slate includes powerhouses such as LSU, Mississippi, Stanford, Penn State and Virginia Tech. In addition, all six of Texas Tech's losses have been by eight points or less. A perennial contender, Texas Tech finds itself out of the national rankings for the first time since 1992. The Lady Raiders are practically unbeatable at United Spirit Arena, having won 91 of the 101 games played at the facility. Texas Tech is coming off a 1-1 outing at the Caribbean Classic in Cancun, where it defeated Louisville before losing to Virginia Tech. Players to watch include: LaToya Davis (20.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg) and Erin Grant (14.1 ppg, 63 assists). Head coach Marsha Sharp is at the helm.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Texas Tech
In the only meeting between the two schools, Fresno State recorded a 78-69 victory back on Nov. 25, 1989. That game was the second of three contests Fresno State would play at the Nevada Wolf Pack Classic at Reno, Nev.
December To Remember
With a victory against Texas Tech on Thursday, Fresno State will wrap up the month of December with a 6-1 record. During the Bulldog's 10-1 start to the season last year, the team also finished 6-1 in December. That turned out to be Fresno State's best effort during the month since going 7-1 in 1988-89 and 5-0 during the 1984-85 campaign.
New To The League
Fresno State is somewhat unfamiliar with Big-12 competition, having only faced off against four teams (Baylor, Colorado, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech) from the conference. The Bulldogs are 5-3 all-time versus the Big-12, with the most recent victory coming last year in a 57-53 home win over Oklahoma State.
Welcome Back
Guards Mirenda Swearengin and Tierre Wilson, who sat out the fall semester after being ruled academically ineligible, have made immediate contributions since returning to the lineup. Perhaps most importantly, the return of Swearengin and Wilson allow the Bulldogs to play at their desired up-tempo pace. Through two games, Swearengin is averaging 18 points with six rebounds while shooting 78.9-percent from the field. In 29 minutes off the bench against Arizona, Wilson registered her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 boards.
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 20-41 three-point attempts over the last six games, including a season-best five treys against San Diego on Dec. 5. Perera leads the `Dogs with 23 three-pointers and is shooting at a 39-percent clip.
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 58.6-percent (17-29) while leading the team in assists, steals and blocks. Erica Henry, who scored only 17 points in 15 games as a freshman, is averaging 5.8 ppg and 3.3 rpg while shooting 54.5-percent. Brittani Green has started six games and is shooting 55.8-percent while scoring 5.1points and pulling down 3.3 rebounds per game. Andrea Roberson, who is averaging just 11.7 minutes, is shooting 55.2-percent while hauling in 4.5 rpg.
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 43.7 boards per game while allowing only 33.0. That's a difference of +10.7, a mark that currently ranks 10th in the country. 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 at 8.0 rpg while six players are averaging at least four per contest.
Score At The Half
How do you predict a Fresno State victory? Glance at the scoreboard after the first 20 minutes of action. When the Bulldogs lead at the half, they are 6-0. In games they trail at intermission, they own a ledger of 1-3. When the Bulldogs turned a 28-26 halftime deficit into a 56-50 victory at San Diego on Dec. 5, it signaled the first time Fresno State rallied to win after trailing at the half since Feb. 14, 2004. In that game, Fresno State was down 32-30 at halftime and ended up winning 77-75 in overtime at Boise State.
Last Time Out For The `Dogs:
Fresno State 73, San Francisco 53 (Dec. 20 at San Francisco)
Mirenda Swearengin set the tone for Fresno State's best shooting performance of the season, connecting on 10-11 attempts from the field for a game-high 22 points in Fresno State's 73-53 victory over San Francisco. Swearengin, playing in just her second game of the year, also pulled down six boards, dished out four assists and came up with five steals. Amy Parrish reached double-figures before fouling out late in the contest, adding 12 points to go along with four rebounds. Chantella Perera added nine points while Andrea Roberson scored eight. Fresno State, which shot 53.7-percent, put the game out of reach by halftime with a 44-21 lead. The `Dogs shot a blistering 63.3-percent in the opening 20 minutes and might have duplicated that performance in the second half if not for 18 fouls. Two free throws from Perera gave Fresno State its largest lead of the game at 53-27 with 14:45 remaining.
Winning Big With Wiggins
The Bulldogs have posted a 14-7 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 21 games, Fresno State has tallied some impressive wins. Of the 14 victories under Wiggins, 12 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.
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 15.1 ppg while pulling down 8.0 rpg. She has scored in double-figures in all but one game, her field-goal percentage stands at 46.5-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.
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 3.6 points per game but her contributions in transition and on defense are invaluable. Plummer currently ranks third on the squad in rebounding (5.2 per game) and leads the team in assists (28), blocked shots (16) and steals (19) while shooting 58.6-percent. Despite being such a factor on offense, she is only 2-3 from the free throw line through 10 games.
Back In The Lineup
The loss of Aritta Lane to graduation coupled with the early-season unavailability of starting point guard Mirenda Swearengin and reserve Tierre Wilson has translated into opportunties for other players to crack the starting lineup. In the case of juniors Paige Diggs and Brittani Green, both players were starting for the first time since their freshman year. Toni Atherley, who made only seven starts last year, has been in the starting linuep at guard for eight contests.
