Fresno State Athletics
Final Week Of Regular Season Features Two Home Games
2/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2005
San Jose State Spartans (16-10, 9-7 WAC) atFresno State Bulldogs (17-9, 8-8 WAC)
Date: Thu., Mar. 3
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Facility (capacity): Save Mart Center (16,116)
Series History: Fresno State leads 36-17
Last Meeting: Fresno State 79, San Jose State 63
(Jan. 1, 2005 at San Jose, Calif.)
Radio: ESPN Radio 1430 AM- live
(Play-by-play: Paul Swearengin, Color Analyst: Chantea Fleming)
TV: Comcast Cable (ch. 14)- live
(Play-by-play: Rob Emler, Color Analyst: Steve Weakland)
Tip-Off
With just one week remaining in the regular season, there is plenty at stake for Fresno State (17-9, 8-8). The Bulldogs will conclude the year with two home games, the first of which takes place on Thursday, Mar. 3, against San Jose State (16-10, 9-7 WAC) at 7 p.m. That becomes an important contest for both teams, as the Spartans are looking to avenge a 79-63 loss back on Jan. 1 and the Bulldogs are hoping to continue their climb up the WAC standings. The 20-win plateau is approaching as well and a sweep of both home games would aid in that quest. Two victories this weekend would also give Fresno State a winning conference record- a feat the team last accomplished in 2002-03.
Gameday Promotion
Fans can redeem a two-for-one coupon for one free general admission ticket to Thursday's game against San Jose State with the purchase of a ticket of equal or greater value. Offer is good on day of game only. Coupons are available online at www.gobulldogs.com, the Bulldog Shop or the Fresno State ticket office.
Scouting San Jose State
Surprising San Jose State (16-10, 9-7 WAC) is guaranteed to finish among the conference's top-six and earn a WAC Tournament first-round bye. The Spartans snapped a four-game losing streak with a 79-70 victory over Tulsa in their most recent contest on Feb. 26, sweeping the season series with the Golden Hurricane. If not for that four-game losing streak, San Jose State would be in place to contend for the conference's top two spots. Defense has been the key for San Jose State, which ranks second in the WAC in allowing just 60.5 ppg and first in limiting its opponents to 36-percent shooting. Players to watch include: Amber Jackson (15.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 67-percent from the field at 183-273), Lamisha Augustine (14.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 47 steals) and Jessica Kellogg (9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, team-best 52 three-pointers). Head coach Janice Richard is in her fifth season.
Fresno State All-Time vs. San Jose State
Fresno State is 36-17 all-time against San Jose State and that includes five victories in a row. The Bulldogs had little trouble with the Spartans in the team's first meeting back in January, winning 79-63. Fresno State won 18 straight games in this series from 1984-1992 and seven in a row from 1998-2001. The `Dogs won twice last year, including an 81-39 thrashing at the Save Mart Center.
Scouting Hawai'i
Hawai'i (10-13, 6-10 WAC) will play at Nevada on Thursday night before coming into town on Saturday afternoon. The Rainbow Wahine enter the week on a three-game losing streak, including back-to-back home losses to Tulsa (72-62) and Rice (70-49) last week. Hawai'i is just 2-5 away from the Stan Sherriff Center this year. Hawai'i is one of only two conference teams to defeat WAC leader Louisiana Tech this season, winning a 79-78 overtime contest back on Feb. 10. The Rainbow Wahine average 60.9 ppg and allow 62.9. Players to watch include the following: Jade Abele (12.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, team-best 36 three-pointers, 88 assists), Amy Sanders (11.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 30 three-pointers) and Janevia Taylor (11.4 ppg, 81-percent free throw shooter, 6.3 rpg). Head coach Jim Bolla is in his first year.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Hawai'i
The series has been very lopsided and in favor of Hawai'i. The Rainbow Wahine own a 24-9 all-time mark against the Bulldogs, including a 15-game winning streak that extended from 1992-2003. Fresno State has won three of the last four meetings though, including a 70-48 rout in Honolulu back on Dec. 30. Hawai'i won last year's game at the Save Mart Center, 48-46.
`Dogs Secure First Winning Season Since 2002-03
Fresno State's 71-50 rout of Boise State on Feb. 12 guaranteed 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.
Conference Chatter
With a sweep of this week's homestand, Fresno State will finish 10-8 in WAC play for the team's first winning conference record since the 2002-03 season. The Bulldogs finished 11-7 and third place in the WAC in 2002-03, marking the first time the club notched a winning conference record in 13 years. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 campaign, Fresno State has recorded 26 WAC victories. The Bulldogs were 7-11 last season against WAC teams.
Wins At Home Few, But Big
It is a known fact that Fresno State has played very well on the road this season, as the team has notched more wins away from the Save Mart Center. However, the Bulldogs have won four straight home games and all have been blowouts. Fresno State has won its last four home contests by an average of 19.5 points, including two 18-point wins by the same score (65-47 vs. UTEP and Nevada) and two 21-point victories (71-50 vs. Boise State and 57-36 vs. Utah Valley State). In fact, six of Fresno State's eight home wins this year have come by at least 18 points.
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 17-2 when either leading or tied at the half and 0-7 when trailing.
