Fresno State Athletics
Women's Hoops Tries To Slow Idaho's National Scoring Duo
1/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Jan. 18, 2006
Fresno State Bulldogs (11-4, 3-0 WAC) at
Idaho Vandals (7-8, 3-1 WAC)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 19
Time: 7 p.m.
Site: Moscow, Idaho
Facility: Cowan Spectrum (7,000)
Series History: Idaho leads 1-0
Last Meeting: ID 74, FS 61 (Mar. 20, 1986)
Radio: none
Tip-Off
Riding a season-long four-game winning streak, Fresno State (11-4, 3-0 WAC) travels to Moscow, Idaho, on Thursday night to take on WAC newcomer Idaho (7-8, 3-1 WAC) at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs find themselves atop the WAC standings, thanks to one of their biggest victories in recent memory. Last weekend, Fresno State defeated four-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech 67-58 in front of a season-best crowd at the Save Mart Center. The win was the first in 12 tries against the Lady Techsters and established the Bulldogs as a serious contender to win their first-ever conference title.
Scouting Idaho
Fresno State's first opponent this week will be conference newcomer Idaho, which carries a 7-8 overall record and 3-1 WAC mark into Thursday night. The Vandals, who are undefeated in five games at home, got off to a slow start with just three wins in their first nine contets. In fact, the team's current two-game winning streak represents the only time all year Idaho has won back-to-back games. However, the Vandals were also picked to finish third in the WAC preseason poll and have started conference play 3-1. Idaho boasts the top scoring duo in the nation, with Emily Faurholt (20.0 ppg, 48-percent from three-point territory) and Leilani Mitchell (19.3 ppg, 93 assists). The Vandals average 66.5 ppg and shoot 40.7-percent combined from the field. Head coach Mike Divilbiss is 62-53 in four seasons at Idaho.
Fresno State All-Time Against Idaho
The only meeting between the two schools occurred back on Mar. 20, 1986, when Idaho defeated Fresno State 74-61 en route to capturing the 1986 WNIT championship in Amarillo, Texas.
Scouting Hawai'i
Hawai'i enters the weekend with an overall record of 10-4 and 1-2 in the WAC. After starting the season 2-2, the Rainbow Wahine caught fire and reeled off an eight-game winning streak that put them atop the WAC standings for several weeks. However, Hawai'i also enjoyed the luxury of playing nine of its first 12 games in Honolulu. The Rainbow Wahine already recorded victories over Texas A&M and Washington State, while defeating San Francisco and Santa Clara (two common opponents of Fresno State). 12 of the 14 games Hawai'i has played so far have been decided by 10 points or less. The Rainbow Wahine suffered a rare home sweep last week, falling to Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State in back-to-back overtime games. Three players are averaging double-figure scoring, led by Amy Sanders at 13.2 ppg. Head coach Jim Bolla is in his second year.
Fresno State All-Time Against Hawai'i
Although Fresno State has had the upper hand recently, Hawai'i still owns a 24-10 all-time edge in the series. The Bulldogs have won three in a row and four of the last five games after the Rainbow Wahine enjoyed a 15-game winning streak that spanned 11 years. The majority of those wins for the Rainbow Wahine came with island icon Vince Goo at the helm. Last year, Fresno State swept the season series by winning 70-58 in Honolulu and 64-48 at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State is 6-11 against Hawai'i in Fresno.
Conference Chatter
Fresno State has won six 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 regular-season conference winning streak since 1989-90, when the Bulldogs also won six straight contests during their 21-win campaign. The Bulldogs also won six PCAA games in a row during the 1987-88 season. Fresno State's 12-6 ledger in the PCAA during the 1986-87 campaign represents its best conference record in school history.
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 10-0. 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.
Back-to-Back Winners
It remains early, but Fresno State is looking to post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1989-1991. The Bulldogs finished 21-12 during the 1989-90 campaign and 16-13 the following year. After managing a 20-11 mark, the `Dogs are well on their way.
Block Party
Jasmine Plummer has moved into third place on the club's career blocked shots list with 91. The leader is Simone Srubek, who totaled 337 in 108 games.
Last Time Out
Fresno State 67, Louisiana Tech 58 (Jan. 14, 2006 at Fresno, Calif.)
Mirenda Swearengin and Tierre Wilson scored 17 points apiece and Fresno State defeated four-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech for the first time in school history 67-58. Chantella Perera added 12 points for the Bulldogs, who rallied from an eight-point deficit midway through the second period. An enthusiastic, season-high crowd of 3,115 roared its approval in the waning seconds as Fresno State celebrated at center court as time expired. Fresno State shot 39-percent for the contest while Louisiana Tech made 34.4-percent. The Bulldogs were outrebounded for only the fourth time this year, but made up for it by forcing 20 Lady Techster turnovers and attempting 13 more free throws. The backcourt play of Swearengin (four rebounds, four assists, three steals) and Wilson (eight rebounds) was the key, as both players repeatedly got to the free throw line and found their teammates with flashy, no-look passes. The `Dogs led 34-30 at intermission.
