Fresno State Athletics
Seniors Leading Dogs to Unprecedented Success
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2007
FRESNO, Calif.- - Erica Henry and Tierre Wilson have experienced unprecedented success during their playing career at Fresno State. The two four-year seniors are currently the second winningest class in Fresno State women's basketball history with a 62-32 record and an impressive .659 winning percentage coming into the 2007-08 season. The Bulldog class with the most wins was the 1983-87 class who finished with an 81-37 record and a .686 winning percentage.
Over the last three years the two Fresno State seniors have been apart of a team that beat a ranked opponent for the first time in 14 years (No. 18 BYU last season) and in 2005-06 Wilson and Henry helped spark Fresno State to a school-best 24-8 record.
"Playing here has been the greatest experience of my life," Henry said. "My teammates are the best people I have ever been around. This has been the best time of my life."
This year the leadership of Henry and Wilson will be critical to the success of this year's team as they are only two of four returning players on the roster. According to head coach Adrian Wiggins, the seniors have the perfect blend of leadership qualities.
"Erica teaches a lot by knowledge," Wiggins said. "She is very astute and she tells people what to do. Tierre teaches through her work ethic. When you put the two different ways together it makes for a pretty good leader."
Last year Wilson earned Second-Team All-WAC honors while averaging 14.4 points a game and playing a team-best 33.1 minutes an evening. Henry was named the teams Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 6.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. Henry moved into the top 10 for career blocks with 57 this past season.
"They are talented," Wiggins said. "They have a great desire and ability to play ball. They are both very teachable and that has led to their on court success."
With all the success the Dogs have had over the past three years, Wilson and Henry know there is one piece of hardware missing from their trophy mantle and that is a conference championship. No women's team has won a conference title.
"It's been a dream of mine to be a champion," Henry said. "I feel if we don't win a championship something is missing. No matter what our record is we will be the best team to play here if we can win the WAC."
Although the team is young, Wilson is confident this year's Bulldog team has the talent to do something special.
"We have a really good team," she said. "We have style to our game. This team can do good things. We just have to keep working because nothing is going to be handed to us."
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State women's basketball team takes on Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 24. Bring your November 24th football ticket and receive free admission to the basketball game. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (559)485-TIXS or at the Save Mart Center box office.
