Fresno State Athletics
Basketball Begins Friendship of Ross and Arnold
1/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - As soon as Jaleesa Ross found out Marnique Arnold could hoop they became instant friends. That friendship started when the two were 12 when they took boys lunch money after beating them at two-on-two at lunch recess.
After playing on the same team in high school at Pinole Valley, the two hoopsters are once again teammates at Fresno State. Although the two made their official recruiting trip to Fresno State together, they both made their decisions separately.
"A lot of schools thought that if they got me than they would get her or if they got her than they would get me," Arnold said. "They thought it was a package deal but it really wasn't. We both made up our mind separately but in the end good minds think alike."
Their decision to attend Fresno State was simple. They wanted to play for coach Adrian Wiggins.
"Everything he said he does now," Arnold said. "So far he has been correct about everything. Getting out there and actually playing as a freshman has been fun. A lot of freshmen don't get to play like we do."
The two had nearly identical stats their senior year in high school as Arnold, a left handed shooter, averaged 13.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and four assists while Ross averaged 13 points four rebounds and six assists. Ross was also a 48 percent shooter from the 3-point line in high school.
"They are two different style of players," Wiggins said. "Marnique is very scrappy, tough and you will start seeing her come into her own. Jaleesa is making shots. She is catching and shooting at a pretty good rate. We feel like they make two pretty good guards."
The high school game they both look back on with great fondness was a game at Berkeley High School their senior year.
"We blew them up," Ross said. "Marnique and I were on that game. It was the Marnique and Jaleesa show. Defense, offense, you could tell we had been playing together for a while. It was a huge win."
Away from basketball the two have been just as inseparable. Their houses are only five minutes from each other and both families spend the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays at each other's home.
The close friendship also means the two see sides of the person's personality that most people don't see.
On Arnold, Ross said, "Marnique has the mentality not of a bully but of a tough girl. What they don't know is that she can be sensitive and caring. She is a lot more than just hard faced."
On Ross, Arnold said, "She comes off as a very laid back, nonchalant type of person. But really she is a big kid. She is very goofy. Once you get to know her you'll see that she loves to put on a show."
Since the two players have played together for so long, the players have developed a special a bond on the court that fans in attendance may not notice.
"We have always had better chemistry than a lot of other players," Arnold said. "We know too much about each other. I am a driver and I know she is a shooter. We know where to get each other the ball."
Added Ross, "We have this twin power where you think ahead and we know where we are going to be on the floor."
No matter the situation on or off the floor, Ross knows she will always be able to depend on her long time friend and teammate for a long time to come.
"I call her my left hand man," she said.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State women's basketball team returns home to the Save Mart Center on Thursday, January 17 against Hawai'i at 7 p.m. for Pack the House Night. All group tickets are just $2! Call 278-7449 to book your group today and receive Bulldog Shop Bucks for everyone in your group. All Fresno State faculty and staff, along with all military, fire and police personnel and their families are just $2 with ID at the Save Mart Center box office. And Fresno State students your tickets are FREE. Tickets can be purchased at the Save Mart Center box office.
