Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
17-12, 9-7
Hawai'i
15-14, 9-7
Bulldogs Win Opening Game Of WAC Tournament 72-47
3/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 7, 2007
Las Cruces, N.M. - Fresno State forced the tempo, hounded the ball and leaned on four double-digit scorers as the Bulldogs advanced through the first round with a 72-47 win over Hawai'i. Chantella Perera led all scorers with 16 points, Jenny Thigpin added a double-double and Paige Diggs and Tierre Wilson both finished the game with 12 for the Bulldogs.
Any memories of last year's exit were quickly wiped out, as Fresno State marched to an early lead and won easily against the Rainbow Wahine. The Bulldogs shot 57.1% in the first half, and held the Hawai'i to 21.6% shooing in the second.
"I though we did a good job of making shots, and really executed on our quick hitters," said head coach Adrian Wiggins. "Then, defensively, we had a lot of ball pressure, rotated well and really disrupted what they wanted to do all game. That really was the key."
Hawai'i picked up the first basket of the game, but Fresno State quickly responded, forcing five early Rainbow Wahine turnovers and converting them into an 11-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by Perera.
Fresno State continued to force the action, and extended their lead to 20-6 before Hawai'i hit its first three-pointer of the game, finding Amy Kotani in the corner just prior to the 10-minute mark in the game.
Continuing to hold strong on the defensive end, after the Bulldogs allowed the three from Kotani, they held the Rainbow Wahine to just 6 points over next 7 minutes, moving out to an even greater advantage. Even when Hawai'i scored four straight, Fresno State answered with a Roberson three.
Closing out the half, Stevie Hagemeister hit her first three of the year to put the Bulldogs ahead 38-21, and a Wilson jumper at the buzzer gave Fresno State a 42-23 advantage, the most points the Bulldogs had scored in the first half all season.
Kotani hit her second basket of the game to help the Hawai'i open the half with four straight points. Perera hit a reverse layup for first Bulldog score of the half, and Thigpin converted down low as the Bulldogs held defensively through the first part of the second half.
Fresno State scored only four points through the first 10 minutes of the half, but Diggs scored four straight points to get the Bulldogs going, and defensively, Fresno State remained strong, holding Hawai'i as Bulldogs also get stops. With Hawai'i switching into a press to help get defensive stops, Fresno State began to get easy baskets, converting on looks primarily off of Wilson as the ball handler, taking two baskets coast to coast and sparking other fast breaks as the Bulldogs held onto their lead and began to extend it in the final minutes.
