Fresno State Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces 2006-07 Schedule
9/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 6, 2006
Fresno, Calif. - The 2006-07 Fresno State women's basketball schedule features six teams that qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament, representing one of the most challenging slates in recent memory.
Fresno State, coming off its best season in school history at 24-8 overall, will be tested early with a non-league ledger that includes 2006 NCAA Tournament participants Utah, BYU, California, Pepperdine and Stanford. Five-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech and Santa Clara, which advanced to the WNIT, are the other postseason squads from a year ago Fresno State will face in 2006-07.
The Bulldogs will play 14 games at the Save Mart Center, where they finished 15-1 last year and own a 32-13 record since the arena opened in 2003. 10 games against California schools also highlight the schedule, as Fresno State has posted a 26-4 record against teams from the Golden State since the start of the 2002-03 season.
"I believe our schedule will put us in a position to compete at a very high level," said head coach Adrian Wiggins, who has guided the Bulldogs to a 31-12 mark and two WNIT appearances since taking over the program. "Playing such high-caliber non-conference opponents will prepare us well for a challenging WAC season. Our fans will also get an opportunity to watch us play some talented teams at the Save Mart Center."
Fresno State kicks off the 2006-07 campaign with back-to-back games against Mountain West Conference powers Utah and BYU. The Bulldogs open their season on the road for the second straight year when they play at Utah on Nov. 13. The Utes finished 27-7, claimed the MWC Tournament title and advanced to the Elite Eight.
Later in the week, former conference rivals Fresno State and BYU meet for the first time since 1999 when the Cougars visit the Save Mart Center for the Bulldog's home opener. BYU went 26-6 last year and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
After hosting UC Irvine, Fresno State closes out the month of November with a two-game road trip that includes games at Oklahoma State and Cal State Fullerton.
Fresno State has three home games scheduled during the month of December, including a Dec. 1 matchup with Texas Tech. The Lady Raiders, who have appeared in 16 of the last 17 NCAA Tournaments, finished 15-14 last year and are under the guidance of first-year head coach Kristy Curry, who left Purdue in the offseason to replace Hall of Fame coach Marsha Sharp.
The following week, Fresno State travels to the Bay Area for contests against California and Santa Clara. The Bulldogs and Golden Bears will be meeting for the first time since 2001 when the two teams hook up Dec. 7 in Berkeley. California finished 18-12 last year, earning an NCAA Tournament bid with its first winning season since 1992-93. Fresno State has enjoyed recent success against Santa Clara, winning five straight games dating back to 2002.
One of Fresno State's most memorable games last year was an 81-70 victory over Arizona at the Save Mart Center, and the home-and-home series resumes in Tucson on Dec. 18. Pepperdine, which captured the WCC's automatic NCAA Tournament bid last year despite a 14-17 overall mark, hosts Fresno State on Dec. 30.
The final non-conference game of the year takes place Jan. 2, as Stanford makes its first appearance against the Bulldogs in Fresno since 1988. The Cardinal, who finished 26-8 and reached the Elite Eight last year, defeated the Bulldogs 89-67 last year.
Fresno State opens WAC play on the road for the third consecutive season with games against Idaho (Jan. 4) and Utah State (Jan. 6). One week later, the Bulldogs return to the Save Mart Center to host San Jose State and Hawai'i in a two-game homestand. Fresno State travels to conference rival Louisiana Tech on Jan. 27, as the Bulldogs look to build momentum following last year's first-ever win over the five-time defending champion Lady Techsters.
After hosting Idaho on Feb. 3, Fresno State embarks on its longest road swing of the season. During a three-game road stretch, the Bulldogs will face Nevada, New Mexico State and Hawai'i.
Fresno State then plays four of its final five games of the regular season on its home court, including a Feb. 22 tilt against Louisiana Tech.
The 2007 WAC Tournament is scheduled for Mar. 6-10 in Las Cruces, with New Mexico State serving as a first-time host.
In addition, Fresno State will host the 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Regional on Mar. 24-26 at the Save Mart Center. In 2005, Fresno State hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
