Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State, Louisiana Tech Collide In Key WAC Showdown
1/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2006
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Fresno State Bulldogs (10-4, 2-0 WAC) vs.
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (11-3, 3-0 WAC)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 14
Time: 1 p.m.
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Facility: Save Mart Center (16,116)
Series History: Louisiana Tech leads 11-0
Last Meeting: LT 92, FS 87- 2OT (Mar. 11, 2005)
Radio: 1430 ESPN Radio (play-by-play: Paul Swearengin)
Tip-Off
The top two teams in the WAC square off Saturday in a key contest that will give the winner an early edge in the conference race. Louisiana Tech (11-3, 3-0 WAC) and Fresno State (10-4, 2-0 WAC), picked to finish 1-2 respectively in the preseason coaches and media polls, are scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip-off at the Save Mart Center. Even though the Lady Techsters own an 11-0 all-time series lead, the Bulldogs are 6-1 at home and will likely get a boost from one of their biggest crowds of the year. They'll need it against four-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech, which is riding a six-game winning streak.
Scouting Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech is the four-time defending WAC champion and has again been picked to win the conference by the coaches and media. The gap between the Lady Techsters and the rest of the league is quickly shrinking though and the Bulldogs, picked to finish second in both polls, would love to make a statement on Saturday afternoon. That's not to say Louisiana Tech is in trouble. The Lady Techsters enter Saturday's game with a record of 11-3 and have won six straight games, including a 71-66 overtime win at Hawai'i on Thursday night. The non-conference schedule was challenging, as Louisiana Tech squared off against the likes of Mississippi, Iowa and No. 1 Tennessee. The Lady Techsters are guided by first-year head coach Chris Long. Louisiana Tech is led by Preseason WAC Player of the Year Tasha Williams, who leads the club with 13.3 ppg.
Fresno State All-Time Against Louisiana Tech
The next win Fresno State gets over Louisiana Tech will be its first, as the Lady Techsters own a commanding 11-0 all-time lead. Six of the first nine games played between the two teams resulted in Louisiana Tech victories by margins of at least 20 points. However, Fresno State has closed the gap and the previous three contests have all been decided by 10 points or less. That includes last year's 92-87 double-overtime thriller in the WAC Tournament semifinals, as Fresno State held a double-digit lead prior to a furious Lady Techster rally.
A Look Back At The Last Meeting
Louisiana Tech 92, Fresno State 87 (Mar. 11, 2005- WAC Tournament Semifinal)
Louisiana Tech's Erica Taylor led all scorers with 25 points in a thrilling 92-87 double-overtime victory over Fresno State in the semifinal round of the 2005 WAC Tournament. The Bulldogs held a four-point halftime edge and led by double-digits for the majority of the second period. Mirenda Swearengin led the `Dogs with 23 points, while Aritta Lane tallied 22 points and nine boards and Amy Parrish scored 14. The Lady Techsters made a tournament record 29-36 free throw attempts, while Fresno State struggled at 15-23. Fresno State drained a season-high 10 three-pointers to keep things close. The Bulldogs shot 43.1-percent overall compared to the Lady Techsters' mark of 38.7-percent. Veronica Mack's three-pointer at the end of the first overtime forced a second extra session, but the Lady Techsters proved too tough in the final five minutes.
Conference Chatter, Part 1
With Thursday's 68-52 victory over New Mexico State, Fresno State has won back-to-back conference games in the month of January for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign (Jan. 11-18). When the feat was accomplished almost 10 years ago, the Bulldogs recorded a three-game winning streak over San Jose State, UNLV and Air Force.
Conference Chatter, Part 2
Fresno State has won five straight regular-season conference games dating back to last season, when the `Dogs closed out league play with victories over Nevada, San Jose State and Hawai'i. That's the best WAC regular-season winning streak since 2002-03, when the Bulldogs won five straight contests during their 21-win campaign.
Will It Be Different This Year?
Fast starts and strong finishes have been trademarks of Fresno State women's basketball in recent years, as the Bulldogs have enjoyed much success in the months of December, February and March. However, the club would just as soon tear the month of January off the calendar. Over the last four seasons, the `Dogs are 26-13 in the final two months of the year but just 9-17 in January. This might be the year that trend reverses, as Fresno State is 3-0 so far.
No Place Like Home For Wilson
Tierre Wilson has made an impact coming off the bench since her return to the lineup on Dec. 17, averaging 10.0 ppg and 4.8 rpg. However through six games, it is very clear that she prefers the home court at the Save Mart Center. In three home games, Wilson is averaging 13.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg while shooting 56.7-percent. In three road games, she is averaging 6.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg while shooting at a 31.8-percent clip.
`Dogs Get A Close Call
When Fresno State defeated Utah State 60-58 in the WAC opener, it represented the first time in almost two years the team won a game by less than three points (77-75 in overtime on Feb. 14, 2004 at Boise State). It was the club's first win by less than three points under the guidance of head coach Adrian Wiggins.
WAC Leaders
Fresno State is the WAC leader in: field-goal percentage (69.4), rebounding defense (33.9 per game), rebounding margin (+9.9) and offensive rebounds (238). Individually, Chantella Perera leads the WAC and ranks 20th in the nation in free throw percentage, having knocked down 39-44 for 88.6-percent.
Last Time Out:
Fresno State 68, New Mexico State 52 (Jan. 12 at Fresno, Calif.)
Amy Parrish scored a game-high 21 points to lead three players in double-figures during Fresno State's 68-52 victory over New Mexico State. Tierre Wilson added 12 points off the bench and Mirenda Swearengin chipped in with 11, but the Bulldogs ultimately won the game at the free throw line and with an impressive group effort on the boards. Fresno State finished 16-26 from the free throw line compared to New Mexico State's 6-10 mark. Perhaps more importantly, the Bulldogs owned a commanding 51-32 edge in rebounds as four players pulled down at least six boards with Parrish and Wilson each hauling down nine. The Aggies were able to stay close thanks to a 10-23 clip from three-point territory, as Cecilia Russell-Nava knocked down four triples to lead New Mexico State with 14 points. Fresno State shot 40-percent overall, while New Mexico State made 31-percent. The `Dogs built an early lead, going up by double-digits at 18-8 following two free throws from Parrish midway through the first period. Fresno State led 30-21 at halftime.
Post Player Production
With opposing defenses focusing on Amy Parrish, Fresno State's other post players have excelled in the early going. Three players are currently boasting a field-goal percentage of 50-percent or better. Leading the group is Jasmine Plummer, who is shooting 61-percent (25-41) while leading the team in steals and blocks. Brittani Green has started 10 games and is shooting 53.1-percent while scoring 5.1 points per game. Andrea Roberson, who is averaging just 11.2 minutes, is shooting 57.1-percent while hauling in 3.8 rpg. Erica Henry, who scored only 17 points in 15 games as a freshman, is close behind at 45.7-percent from the field while averaging 5.5 ppg.
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 allows the Bulldogs to play at their desired up-tempo pace. Through six games, Swearengin is averaging 14.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 50.7-percent from the field. In 29 minutes of action off the bench against Arizona on Dec. 17, Wilson registered her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. She is usually the first player off the bench and is averaging 10.8 ppg and 4.8 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 three games, are averaging 43.7 boards per game while allowing only 33.9. That's a difference of +9.9, a mark that ranks tops in the WAC and 19th in the nation. Fresno State has pulled down at least 50 boards in a game on five different occasions, including a season-best 58 at Utah Valley State. Four different players are averaging at least four per contest.
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. She leads the team with 15.1 ppg while pulling down 7.9 rpg. She has scored in double-figures in all but two games, her field-goal percentage stands at 46.4-percent and she has even knocked down 13-38 three-pointers. Parrish has registered five 20-point games and posted two double-doubles. 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 4.0 points per game but her contributions in transition and on defense are invaluable. Plummer currently ranks third on the squad in rebounding (5.8 per game) and leads the team in blocked shots (25) and steals (27) while shooting 61-percent. Despite being such a factor on offense though, she is only 6-7 from the free throw line through 14 games.
Winning Big With Wiggins
The Bulldogs have posted a 17-8 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 25 games, Fresno State has tallied some impressive wins. Of the 17 victories under Wiggins, 14 have been of the double-digit variety. Fresno State has also registered a 12-1 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.
Making A State-Ment
Since the start of the 2002-03 season, the Bulldogs have performed very well against California schools, notching a 23-4 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 6-1 so far in such games this year, with the only blemish at No. 13 Stanford.
Fresno State All-Time At The Save Mart Center
Fresno State, 6-1 in home games this year, has compiled a 23-13 overall record in games played at the Save Mart Center since the arena opened in 2003. The Bulldog's inaugural season in the arena produced several school attendance records, including a No. 19 national ranking in average home attendance and the third-largest yearly increase among all other DIvision 1 programs. Last year, Fresno State ranked 22nd in both total and average attendance and a record crowd of 7,042 watched the `Dogs 58-38 win over Pepperdine in the opener.
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 9-0. In games they trail at intermission, they own a ledger of 1-4. 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.
Early Returns
Fresno State finished non-conference play with a record of 8-4 overall. Not bad considering the Bulldog's schedule featured No. 10 Arizona State and No. 13 Stanford, along with contests against Arizona, Texas Tech and Santa Clara- all of which qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year. The Bulldogs are now 30-14 in non-conference play over the last four years.
