Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
New Mexico State (WAC Tournament)
Bulldogs Go Dancing
3/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 15, 2008
LAS CRUCES, NM - For the first time in the school's 43 year history the Fresno State women's basketball team will be going to the NCAA tournament after beating New Mexico State 72-56 in the championship game of the WAC tournament on Saturday.
"We had a wonderful time in Las Cruces and obviously I am very proud of our team right now," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. "Tonight we were able to get some shots that were makeable and rebound very well."
The Bulldogs had three players in double figures led by Jaleesa Ross' 20 points, Tierre Wilson's 17 and Bailey Amundsen's 11. Fresno State out rebounded New Mexico State 49-29 and shot 43 percent from the field. Erica Henry had a game-high 13 rebounds while Hayley Munro had 11.
The Bulldogs are now 22-10 and have won 20 of their last 22 games after a 2-8 start to the season. Nineteen of the Dogs 22 wins have been by 10 points or more. According to the team the turning point in the season came after a tough 11 point loss at Saint Mary's on December 12. After the defeat Wilson and Henry told the team to not get discouraged and that winning a WAC championship was still possible.
"They were upset but very encouraging," Wiggins said. "They said we were 0-6 but we have bigger goals than the preseason. We had goals and I knew we could win some games in our league. I remember the seniors started yelling in a constructive way. For them to speak up and to take ownership of what we are doing speaks volumes. We all wanted to do it the same way.
That was big and it was a turning point for us in the season." After the 2-8 start the Bulldogs beat every opponent but three by 10 points or more and in the WAC tournament the average margin of victory was 18 points.
It took a while for the Bulldogs to pull away from New Mexico State on Saturday as the Dogs trailed 17-10 with 6:20 left in the first half. Fresno State then closed out the half on an 18-5 run to lead 28-23 at the break.
"I want to credit coach Spence and his team," Wiggins said. "They had an unbelievable year. By no means were we excited to play them. We knew what kind of team we were facing."
In the first half the Bulldogs shot 34 percent from the field but they then heated up in the second half to shoot 54 percent.
Fresno opened the second half by taking a 39-27 lead following a 3-pointer by Wilson with 16:16 left in the game. A layup by Ross three minutes later extended the Bulldogs lead to 46-31. The lead ballooned to as many as 22 at 61-39 following a Marnique Arnold layup with 3:36 left in the game.
The Bulldogs tied a WAC tournament record for most 3-pointers made in a tournament with 27. The record is also held by TCU in 2001.
Ross was named the tournament MVP as she averaged 21.3 points and shot 60 percent from the field in the three games. Ross also shot 45 percent from the 3-point line, hit on 13 of 14 free throw attempts and averaged four rebounds a game.
Wilson and Emma Andrews were also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Wilson averaged 12.7 points a game in the three tournament games while Andrews averaged 12 points and had career highs of 16 points against San Jose State and Louisiana Tech.
2008 WAC All-Tournament Team
Tasha Harris- Boise State
Anikia Jawara- New Mexico State
Emma Andrews- Fresno State
Tierre Wilson- Fresno State
Jaleesa Ross- Fresno State- Tournament MVP
