Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Boise State Saturday Afternoon
1/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Jan. 31, 2006
Fresno State Bulldogs (14-5, 6-1 WAC) vs.
Boise State Broncos (12-9, 4-5 WAC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 4
Time: 1 p.m.
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Facility: Save Mart Center (16,116)
Series History: Fresno State leads 7-6
Last Meeting: FS 71, BS 50 (Feb. 12, 2005)
Radio: 1430 ESPN Radio (Play-by-Play: Paul Swearengin)
Television: Comcast Cable- ch. 14 (Play-by-Play: Rob Emler, Color Analyst: Chantea Fleming)
Tip-Off
Having played three of its last four contests on the road, Fresno State (14-5, 6-1 WAC) returns to the Save Mart Center this weekend for a two-game homestand. The Bulldogs, tied with Louisiana Tech for first-place in the WAC standings, now enter a stretch where they will play only three home games in the month of February. Fresno State opens its homestand on Saturday afternoon against Boise State (12-9, 4-5) at 1 p.m. Then on Monday night, Fresno State hosts conference newcomer Idaho (7-11, 3-4 WAC) at 7 p.m. before flying out to Honolulu the next morning. The Bulldogs will have reached the midway point of the conference season after Saturday's game.
National Girls/Women In Sports Day
Fans will have the opportunity to meet Fresno State female student-athletes and coaches during Saturday's game against Boise State in celebration of the 20th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day. Female sports teams will be signing autographs on the upper concourse of the arena prior to tip-off.
Parrish Unavailable For Saturday's Game
Senior Amy Parrish will be unavailable for Saturday's game against Boise State, serving a one-game suspension. With 10 seconds remaining in a 70-61 loss at Louisiana Tech on Jan. 28, Parrish and Lady Techster forward Tamika Kursh were both assessed technical fouls and ejected for fighting. She is eligible to return for Monday night's game versus Idaho.
Scouting Boise State
Boise State is coming off a 69-64 home defeat at the hands of San Jose State on Feb. 1. Boise State, which began the season with five consecutive wins, checks into Saturday's game at 12-9 overall and 4-5 in the WAC. The Broncos are a much-improved team in 2005-06, having already eclipsed last year's marks of 10-19 overall and 4-14 in the WAC. Boise State owns an 8-2 mark in home games and is 3-7 on the road. The Broncos average 66.9 ppg, pull down 43.0 rpg and shoot 38.8-percent from the field. However, their strength remains the same as in recent seasons: three-point shooting. Boise State, led by Nadia Begay's 56 triples, boasts three different players who have made at least 25 three-point tries. Jessica Thompson leads the club with 14.4 ppg. Head coach Gordy Presnell is in his first season at the helm.
Fresno State All-Time Against Boise State
The all-time series, which dates back to 1984, is now led by Fresno State at 7-6. The Bulldogs have won three in a row and five of the last six meetings, including a sweep of the season series last year that included a 71-50 win at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State is 2-3 all-time at home against Boise State.
Who's Hot Against Boise State
Chantella Perera has enjoyed the most success against Boise State. In three games, she is shooting 47-percent from the field with 10 three-pointers. Two years ago, she poured in a career-best 25 points in an overtime victory. In four games, Jasmine Plummer has pulled down 26 rebounds. Tierre Wilson is 6-11 from the field with eight rebounds in two games. However, Mirenda Swearengin is just 4-21 from the field in two games against the Broncos.
Let's Talk Streaks
Fresno State's recent seven-game winning streak ranked as the second-longest in school history and was the first such stretch since the 1988-89 campaign. The program record stands at nine consecutive victories, a feat that has been accomplished three different times. Two Bob Spencer-coached clubs put together nine wins in a row (1986-87, 1984-85) and the Diane Milutinovich-led `Dogs won nine straight in 1979-80.
Turning Things Around
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. Fresno State's success down the stretch has been particularly impressive, as the `Dogs are 26-13 in the final two months of the year since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
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 five games, are averaging 43.0 boards per game while allowing only 34.6. That's a difference of +8.4, a mark that ranks tops in the WAC and 16th 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 five rebounds per contest.
WAC Leaders
As a team, Fresno State leads the WAC in six different categories: field-goal percentage (43.5-percent), scoring margin (+7.9), rebounding defense (34.6), rebounding margin (+8.4), offensive rebounds (305) and assists (285). Individually, Chantella Perera ranks second in free throw percentage (85.9).
Last Time Out:
Louisiana Tech 70, Fresno State 61 (Jan. 28, 2006 at Ruston, La.)
Fresno State rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit but Louisiana Tech proved to be too much down the stretch, hanging on for a 70-61 victory. The Bulldogs were bidding to become the first opponent to sweep a conference regular season series from Louisiana Tech since 1990. Instead it was Louisiana Tech knocking down free throws down the stretch to preserve the win and snap Fresno State's seven-game winning streak. Leading 33-29 at halftime, Louisiana Tech built a 13-point cushion to go ahead 49-36 with 12:29 remaining in the contest. Fresno State then embarked on a 22-7 scoring run to take a 58-56 lead with 5:17 left to play. But the Lady Techsters were too much down the stretch, scoring 12 of the game's final 17 points. Amy Parrish led three Bulldogs in double-figures with 18 points to go along with eight rebounds. Mirenda Swearengin added 13 points and nine boards while Chantella Perera chipped in with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds. Louisiana Tech was led by Shan Moore's 17 points while Ty Moore notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Fresno State held a 44-40 edge in rebounds, with four players pulling down at least seven.
Conference Chatter
Fresno State recently won nine straight regular-season conference games dating back to last season, matching a program record. The first-ever nine-game confernece winnings streak occurred when the Bulldogs won five games to close out the 1985-86 campaign and then recorded four more victories to start 1986-87.
