Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Plays At Utah State In WAC Opener
1/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2006
Fresno State Bulldogs (8-4, 0-0 WAC) at
Utah State Aggies (1-10, 0-1 WAC)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 7
Time: 6 p.m. PST
Site: Logan, Utah
Facility: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (10,270)
Series History: First Meeting
Radio: None
Tip-Off
Fresno State (8-4, 0-0 WAC) now turns its attention to WAC play, making its first-ever appearance in Logan, Utah, to face conference newcomer Utah State (1-10, 0-1 WAC) in this year's WAC opener. The `Dogs closed out non-conference play with a victory against a familiar opponent, defeating regional rival Santa Clara for the fifth consecutive time in a 64-46 win at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State, projected to finish second in the WAC in the preseason coaches and media polls, can start league play on a positive note Saturday with a victory over the Aggies, who have produced just a 19-36 record since the women's basketball program was reinstated on Mar. 5, 2002.
Looking Ahead
Fresno State returns home next week, hosting New Mexico State (Thu., Jan. 12) and four-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech (Sat., Jan. 14).
Watch The `Dogs From Press Row
Get an up-close look at the action from press row when the Bulldogs take on four-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech at the Save Mart Center on Saturday, Jan. 14. In the latest auction on Fresno State's official athletics website, www.gobulldogs.com, two individuals have the opportunity to watch the game from press row and experience the behind-the-scenes gameday atmosphere. Also included in the package are the following: two credentials, copy of game program and in-game statistics, access to pre-game media meal, access to post-game press conference with head coach Adrian Wiggins and selected players and pre-game tour of Bulldog lockerroom. In addition, the auction winners will be introduced over the public address system with recognition on the video board. Both participants must be at least 16 years of age or older.
Scouting Utah State
It's been a slow start to the 2005-06 season for Utah State, which has won just one of its first 11 games. The Aggies, one of three new schools playing their first season in the WAC, finished last year 14-14 and 8-8 in the Big West. Utah State dropped a 63-51 decision to visiting San Jose State in its WAC opener on Thursday, receiving 12 points from Jenny Gross. The Bulldogs should compare notes with the Aggies, as Utah State's only win of the year came in a 74-51 drubbing of Utah Valley State- one of Fresno State's four losses. Aside from that triumph, Utah State has lost eight games by double-digit margins. Pacing the Aggies are: Ali Marchant (12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 63.5-percent shooting), Taylor Richards (11.7 ppg, team-best 41 assists) and Brittany Hagen (8.7 ppg, team-best 22 three-pointers). Head coach Raegan Pebley is 20-45 in her third year at the helm. The Aggies have posted a 19-36 record since the 2002 reinstatement.
Fresno State All-Time vs. Utah State
Saturday's meeting will be the first-ever between the two schools.
Fresno State All-Time In WAC Openers
Dating back to the 1973-74 campaign, the Bulldogs are 18-14 all-time in conference openers. Fresno State plays at Utah State on Saturday to begin league play. Last year's WAC lid-lifter represented the first time Fresno State opened conference play on the road since a 66-61 overtime loss at UTEP on Jan. 15, 2000. The result was favorable though, as the Bulldogs pounded Hawai'i 70-48 in Honolulu on Dec. 30 behind Mirenda Swearengin's 14 points. In the previous five WAC openers, Fresno State owns a 3-2 record.
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.
WAC Leaders
Fresno State is the WAC leader in: field-goal percentage (44.0), rebounding defense (33.8 per game), rebounding margin (+9.3) and offensive rebounds (198). Individually, Chantella Perera leads the WAC in free throw percentage.
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 four games, Swearengin is averaging 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 60-percent from the field. In 29 minutes of action off the bench against Arizona, Wilson registered her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. She is averaging 9.3 ppg after scoring 14 vs. Santa Clara.
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 59.5-percent (22-37) while leading the team in steals and blocks. Brittani Green has started eight games and is shooting 56.6-percent while scoring 5.3 points per game. Andrea Roberson, who is averaging just 11.4 minutes, is shooting 57.6-percent while hauling in 4.0 rpg. Prior to Monday's game against Santa Clara, Erica Henry was also part of that mix. Henry, who scored only 17 points in 15 games as a freshman, is averaging 5.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg while shooting 47.5-percent.
Last Time Out:
Fresno State 64, Santa Clara 46 (Jan. 2 at Fresno, Calif.)
Fresno State shot a blistering 62.1-percent from the field in the first half and cruised the rest of the way during a 64-46 victory over Santa Clara. Tierre Wilson matched her career-high with 14 points to lead the Bulldogs, who closed out non-conference play with their fifth consecutive victory over the Broncos. Chantella Perera added nine points while Jasmine Plummer contributed six points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals. The Bulldogs led 37-22 at halftime, limiting Santa Clara to just nine first-half buckets. It didn't get much better after intermission, as the Broncos' 46 points and 33.3-percent shooting were season-low totals for a Fresno State opponent this year. Perhaps Fresno State's best defensive effort came against Santa Clara leading scorer Michelle Cozad, as the senior guard was bottled up by Plummer and held to just 11 points on 5-20 shooting. Fresno State, which shot 46.6-percent overall, held a 43-32 edge in the rebounding department and came up with 12 steals. Santa Clara was just 1-3 from the free throw line, instead opting for long-range shots as they finished 7-28 from three-point territory.
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 43.2 boards per game while allowing only 33.8. That's a difference of +9.3, a mark that ranks 10th in the nation. Fresno State has pulled down at least 50 boards in a game on four different occasions, including a season-best 58 at Utah Valley State. Five 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. The senior forward has been the Bulldog's dominant force early on as she ranks second on the team with 14.6 ppg while pulling down 7.7 rpg. She has scored in double-figures in all but two games, her field-goal percentage stands at 46.6-percent and she has even knocked down 12-34 three-point attempts. Parrish has registered four 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 (5.4 per game) and leads the team in blocked shots (20) and steals (23) while shooting 59.5-percent. Despite being such a factor on offense though, she is only 4-5 from the free throw line through 12 games.
Winning Big With Wiggins
The Bulldogs have posted a 15-8 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 23 games, Fresno State has tallied some impressive wins. Of the 15 victories under Wiggins, 13 have been of the double-digit variety. Fresno State has also registered a 11-1 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. Of the eight losses, four have come by 10 points or less.
