Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
11-9, 4-3
Louisiana Tech
10-10, 5-2
Bulldogs Downed By Louisiana Tech
1/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2007
Ruston, La. - Tierre Wilson and Jenny Thigpin returned for the Bulldogs Saturday, but Fresno State did not get the lift they expected in a 78-40 loss on the road at Louisiana Tech. Cold shooting for the Bulldogs gave away any hope the team had after cutting a 22 point deficit down to 11 in the first half, finishing the game 13-50 from the floor. Paige Diggs led the Bulldogs with 10 points.
Louisiana Tech started out the game with immediate full court pressure, helping the Lady Techsters move out to an 8-2 lead. Fresno State battled back in the early minutes behind four points from Paige Diggs, and cut the lead back to two at 10-8. At that point, the Lady Techsters brought in fresh legs and started what became a 15-2 run to open up a large advantage, as the Bulldogs were cold from the floor, starting the game 3-14 from the field.
Fresno State answered back towards the end of the half, finishing the period by coming back with strong defense and free throw shooting, putting together an 11-1 run to bring back the Louisiana Tech lead back to twelve with one minute remaining in the half. The Bulldogs held the Techsters to just two points over the final four minutes to get the Bulldogs to within 11 at the half at 39-28, cutting Louisiana Tech's biggest first half lead in two.
The second half started out much as the first did however, as Fresno State struggled from the field to start the second half as well, starting out 0-4 and not scoring until a Wilson layup at the 16-minute mark, making the score 46-30.
A tough night from the field for the Bulldogs finally ended with a 25.5 shooting percentage, including a 0-11 night from three, balanced only by a 14-16 game from the stripe. On the other side, Lousiana Tech shot 47.4 percent and 5-10 from three, led by Shan Moore with 17 points.
The Bulldogs return home to face Idaho next Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. Following that game, Fresno State takes its longest road stretch of the year, playing Nevada, New Mexico State and Hawai'i in seven days as Western Athletic Conference play comes to a close.
