Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Step Out Of Conference To Host Utah Valley State
2/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2005
Utah Valley State Wolverines (2-19, Independent) at
Fresno State Bulldogs (15-9, 7-8 WAC)
Date: Wed., Feb. 23
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Facility (capacity): Save Mart Center (16,116)
Series History: First Meeting
Radio: KFSR 90.7 FM- live (Play-by-play: Guy Haberman)
Tip-Off
Four home games are all that remain on Fresno State's regular season schedule, two of which take place this weekend. The Bulldogs (15-9, 7-8 WAC) have dropped two straight after a three-game winning streak and are looking to make their traditional late-season run. First up for Fresno State is a non-conference contest against Utah Valley State (2-19, Div. 1-Independent) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center. The `Dogs will then square off against conference travel partner Nevada on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. Fresno State currently stands in fourth place in the WAC and would be the No. 6 seed if the conference tournament began today.
Media Memo
Wednesday's game against Utah Valley State can be heard live on KFSR 90.7 FM and on Fresno State's official athletics website, www.gobulldogs.com. Guy Haberman handles the play-by-play chores.
Scouting Utah Valley State
Utah Valley State has struggled this year playing as an Independent in Division 1 competition. The Wolverines have played 21 games so far this year, winning just twice. UVSC picked up its first win of the season on Nov. 27 with a 67-43 rout of Jacksonville State, and defeated Montana State 37-28 at home on Jan. 6. The Wolverines enter Wednesday night's contest on a seven-game losing streak and will host Northern Colorado on Saturday before the NCAA Divison 1-Independent Tournament in two weeks. UVSC is averaging 55.5 points per game and allowing 71.9. The Wolverines shoot 37-percent from the field overall and average 20 turnovers per contest. Leading the charge are: Miriam Palkki (12.0 ppg, 36 three-pointers), Katie Wilson (9.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Kaydee Allred (9.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 45-percent from the field). Head coach Cathy Nixon is in her 10th season.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Utah Valley State
Fresno State and Utah Valley State have never played each other in women's basketball.
Scouting Nevada
Nevada (7-18, 3-12), which currently stands in last place in the WAC, is Fresno State's second opponent this weekend. The Wolf Pack has struggled this year and was swept last week in games at Rice and Tulsa following a two-game winning streak. Nevada's three conference wins have come against SMU, Boise State and UTEP. The Wolf Pack finished 3-26 overall last year so they have already improved on that mark. Nevada is averaging 60.8 ppg and allowing 69.2. The team is shooting 38.8-percent from the field, while the strength of the club is free throw shooting (71.2-percent). Players to watch include: Meghan McGuire (13.4 ppg, 40.9-percent shooting, 24 three-pointers), Talisha Anderson (10.0 ppg, 52 assists, 29 three-pointers) and Amber Young (5.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg). Head coach Kim Gervasoni is in her second season.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Nevada
Fresno State holds an 19-6 all-time series lead, mainly thanks to a 10-game winning streak that spanned from 1979-1989. Since then, neither team has won more than two straight. Both schools won on their home courts last year, with Nevada claiming a 71-53 win and Fresno State returning the favor with a 63-44 decision at the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs have won four of five overall, including a 75-67 win earlier this year in Reno.
`Dogs Secure First Winning Season Since 2002-03
Fresno State's 71-50 rout of Boise State on Feb. 12 gave the Bulldogs 15 victories, guaranteeing the Bulldogs will finish the 2004-05 season with a winning record. Fresno State's most recent winning season came in 2002-03 when the team finished 21-13. Four regular season games (three in conference play) remain on the schedule before the WAC Tournament in March.
February Is Finally Here
Since a three-game losing streak last month, Fresno State has now won four of its last seven overall. February has always been a welcomed month for the Bulldogs, who always look to establish the best possible position for WAC Tournament play. Fresno State is a combined 21-11 in the final two months of the season since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
Press Wreaking Havoc For Opponents
A swarming, quick pressure defense has yielded favorable results for Fresno State, which has now forced a combined 220 turnovers over the last 10 games (an average of 22 per game). In those same 10 contests, Fresno State has also come up with a total of 117 steals (an average of just under 12 per game).
Lane Looking At A Record?
Senior Aritta Lane is currently 115-213 from the field, translating into a shooting percentage of 54-percent. Kellie Murphy is Fresno State's record holder for field goal percentage in a single season, setting the standard at 58.7-percent during the 1984-85 campaign. Lane ranks second in the conference in that category, behind Amber Jackson of San Jose State (68.3-percent).
Road Warriors
A 68-64 loss at UTEP on Jan. 15 was Fresno State's first of the season, as the Bulldogs entered the game tied with the University of Richmond for the best road record in the nation at 7-0. The defeat also snapped Fresno State's 10-game winning streak (dating back to last year), which at the time was the longest active road winning streak in Division 1 women's basketball.
Winning The Rebound Battle
Fresno State has outrebounded its opponents by an average of 41.1 to 34.7 per game, a margin of +6.4 that currently leads the WAC. The Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents 17 times this year and are 11-6 in such situations. Fresno State has tallied at least 40 rebounds on 15 different occasions and recorded a season-best 55 against San Diego on Dec. 5. Four players are averaging at least four boards: Amy Parrish at 6.9, Aritta Lane at 6.2, Jasmine Plummer and Mirenda Swearengin at 4.8 per game.
Parrish Contributing Inside
A 22-point, 13-rebound performance against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 3 gave junior center Amy Parrish her team-leading fourth double-double. She leads the team in scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg). Parrish has scored in double-figures 18 times and 14 of the last 15 games. In WAC action, she is averaging 16.4 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Her field-goal percentage is 50-percent.
Driving The Lane
Fresno State's leading scorer from a year ago, Lane is second in that category with 11.6 ppg while shooting 54-percent from the field (115-213). She also ranks second on the club with 6.2 rebounds per game to aid Fresno State's assault on the boards. Lane, who has scored in double-figures 13 times and has led the team in scoring six times, established a career-high with 31 points in Fresno State's 86-76 loss at Louisiana Tech last week. She recorded her third double-double on Jan. 22 against Tulsa, with 18 points and 13 boards.
Score at the Half
Not sure how the Bulldogs will fare against an opponent? Enjoy the first 20 minutes then glance at the scoreboard at halftime. The `Dogs are 15-2 when either leading or tied at the half and 0-7 when trailing.
If It's Not Broke...
Fresno State used 11 different lineup combinations last year, the majority of those switches taking place during the team's eight-game losing skid. This season has been different, as Fresno State's lineup has changed only four times. The Bulldogs won their first six games of the season with a lineup of Mirenda Swearengin, Chantella Perera, Toni Atherley, Aritta Lane and Amy Parrish.
Shaking It Off
Fresno State has demonstrated the ability to bounce back after a tough defeat. The Bulldogs were 9-3 following a loss during the 2002-03 season and 8-7 after a defeat last year. Fresno State is now 21-14 following a loss since the start of the 2002-03 season. Wednesday's game against Utah Valley State now represents another opportunity, as Fresno State lost to Rice 89-74.
