Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Open Exhibition Play
11/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 2, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format 
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State women's basketball team opens the 2007-08 season with an exhibition game on Sunday against the Melbourne Roos. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Save Mart Center.
The Roos are a traveling team that has played the Bulldogs the last two years in exhibition contests. This year they are on a seven-game tour, playing seven different teams in California during a two-week stretch. Melbourne played Cal-Poly on October 31 and San Diego on November 3. Following Sunday's game against Fresno State, the Roos play at Cal-State Bakersfield, Fresno Pacific, Biola University and CSU-Los Angeles.
The Bulldogs have also had success in recruiting players from the Australian team as Hayley Munro and Emma Andrews played on the team last year. Former Fresno State star Chantella Perera will also play for the Roos on Sunday.
"This is a good opportunity for us to play against some competition that is organized and structured," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. "We also get a chance to see some recruits that can play in college."
Sunday's game will also be an opportunity for the Bulldog coaching staff to see how the players respond in a game-setting after nearly three weeks of practice. This year Fresno State returns All-WAC guard Tierre Wilson, Erica Henry, Jennifer Leaks and Brittny Jones. The roster boasts a group nine newcomers, five being freshmen.
"I want to see how the players adjust and handle a game atmosphere," Wiggins said. "We are trying to see where the players' confidence, skill level and enthusiasm are at. The entire month of November is a great time for us to really get better and work on becoming the basketball team we want to be."
Following Sunday's game, the Bulldogs return to the floor on Tuesday for their final exhibition game against Fresno Pacific. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. The regular season officially begins on November 10 when the Dogs host No. 14 Cal at 1 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. All Fresno State women's basketball home games can be heard live on 790 ESPN Radio, the Deuce.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" -The Fresno State men's and women's basketball teams will open the season at the Save Mart Center in a doubleheader of exhibition games. On Sunday, November 4 the women's team will play the Melbourne Roos at 2 p.m. followed by the men's team against Western Washington at 4 p.m. Men's and women's basketball tickets are on sale now. Season and group tickets, along with mini plan packages, can be purchased online at gobulldogs.com, by phone at 559-278-DOGS, or in person at the Bulldog Ticket Office. Single game tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (559)485-TIXS or at the Save Mart Center box office.
