Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
<li> Tulsa
Women's Hoops Falls At Tulsa, 81-69
2/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2005
TULSA, Okla.- Trailing by 21 at halftime, Fresno State staged a second-half rally but came up short in an 81-69 loss to Tulsa on Thursday night at the Reynolds Center.The loss snapped Fresno State's (15-8, 7-7 WAC) three-game winning streak, while Tulsa (15-8, 7-6 WAC) picked up its first win in four games.
Based on the first half alone, it looked as if the Golden Hurricane would cruise to an early victory. Tulsa led 44-23 at intermission, shot 64.3-percent over the first 20 minutes and went to the foul line 13 times. Leading the charge for the Golden Hurricane was Jillian Robbins, who went 10-10 and scored 20 points.
Meanwhile, Fresno State was hampered by 21.9-percent shooting from the field and made just 7-32 shots. The Bulldogs were also whistled for 10 fouls.
However, the `Dogs charged back to outscore the Golden Hurricane 46-37 in the second half. With 4:40 remaining in the contest, Fresno State had closed to within 63-61 after a three-pointer from Mirenda Swearengin. Tulsa responded with an 18-8 scoring run to close out the game and secure the victory.
Fresno State was led by Swearengin's 19 points (including three three-pointers), marking the first time she had scored in double-figures in six games. Three other Bulldogs scored in double-figures: Amy Parrish (17, seven rebounds), Aritta Lane (14 points, eight rebounds) and Chantella Perera (13 points, six rebounds).
Tulsa, which shot 57.1-percent overall, also placed four players in double-figures, led by Robbins' game-high 27 points. She also had 11 boards for her 10th double-double of the year. Becky Heidotten added 15 points off the bench. Robbins and Heidotten had six of Tulsa's 10 blocks.
Fresno State held a 36-35 edge on the boards, with four players hauling down at least six.
A lay-up from Amy Parrish put Fresno State up 9-6 with 14:42 remaining in the first half- the final lead the `Dogs would hold on the evening. Robbins countered with a go-ahead lay-up and by the 6:00 mark, Tulsa had stretched their lead to double-figures at 26-15.
Ahead by 11, the Golden Hurricane continued their scoring barrage. Tulsa closed out the period on an 18-8 surge and scored eight of the last nine points.
With five minutes gone in the second half, Fresno State had trimmed the lead down to 48-35 following a jumper from Swearengin. Fresno State then started to employ a press defense and when Robbins picked up her fourth foul and was relegated to the bench, another Bulldog scoring run began. Five minutes later, a jumper from Tierre Wilson cut the deficit down to single-digits.
Trailing 52-44 with 10:34 remaining, Fresno State pieced together a 17-11 scoring burst and following a triple from Swearengin, the Tulsa lead was down to 63-61 at the 4:40 mark.
Tulsa then regrouped and outscored Fresno State 18-8 over the final four minutes.
Fresno State wraps up its road trip on Saturday, Feb. 19, against Rice at 5 p.m. PST. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1430 AM.
