Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
3-1
Oklahoma State
5-0
Foul Trouble Dooms Fresno State Against Oklahoma State
11/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2006
Stillwater, Okla. - In a matchup of two previously unbeaten teams, Oklahoma State took advantage of extended Fresno State foul trouble to achieve a 65-49 win. Fresno State was whistled for 32 fouls, even while holding an Oklahoma State squad that averaged 82.0 points per game under 40% shooting. The Cowboys finished the game 27-39 from the line on the game.
Defensive pressure from both teams was the key to the first half. Coming into the game, the Cowgirls were averaging 82.0 points per game. The Bulldogs held the team to 22 points in the first half and limited Oklahoma State to 27.3% shooting in the opening half.
The Cowboys controlled the tip and scored the first points of the game, but the Bulldogs worked their way back and took their first lead of the game at 6-4 following a Jenny Thigpin putback off of the offensive glass. After another basket from OSU, Tierre Wilson found Chantella Perera on a backdoor cut to give the Bulldogs another 8-6 lead.
With the game close, Oklahoma State holding a one point lead at 9-8 with 12:00 remaining, the Bulldogs began to get into foul trouble. Two consecutive fouls away from the ball on center Jenny Thigpin, along with some touch fouls on guards Perera, Wilson and Paige Diggs allowed the Cowboys to stay close even while Fresno State began to improve their shooting.
Earning the bonus before the 10:00 mark in the first half, Oklahoma State would outshoot the Bulldogs at the line in the first half 15 shots to 3, making 10 of them. The Bulldogs were able to hold close however, and entered the half with the lead thanks to threes from Wilson and Erica Henry, along with a Henry layup from Wilson to close out the half with the `Dogs up 24-22.
Fresno State began the second half by hitting the offensive gall hard again, increasing their lead to 29-24 after put backs by Thigpin and Andrea Roberson. The Bulldogs took another lead from the block after Brittany Green's second free throw shot was recovered by Perera for an easy layup, to put the Bulldogs ahead 34-30.
Oklahoma State took their first lead of the second half at 40-38 with just over 12 minutes remaining. Taking advantage of extended depth, Oklahoma State began to press inside, opening up a 49-42 lead as the Bulldogs continued to be whistled at the 7:28 mark in the game.
Fresno State lost their first player at the 6:49 mark, when Perera was whistled away from the ball for her fifth foul of the game. The Bulldogs quickly recovered from that setback, as two consecutive steals led to a 5-0 run before the Cowgirls could reach the three-point line, cutting the OSU lead to 51-47 with 5:35 remaining.
Oklahoma State responded with a 6-0 run, capped by a Danielle Green turnaround in the key to give the Cowgirls a 57-47 lead with 3:27 remaining in the second half. With Fresno State pressing to take back the lead, Oklahoma State opened a larger lead in the closing minutes.
Every Bulldog player that participated had 3 fouls prior to the 10:00 minute mark in the second half. Fresno State's road trip continues Tuesday, as the Bulldogs travel to Southern California to face Cal State Fullerton.
