Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Conclude Three-Game Homestand Saturday
1/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State plays host to Idaho on Saturday at 2 p.m.The game can be heard live on 790 ESPN Radio. Tickets are on sale now through the Save Mart Center box office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or online at ticketmaster.com.
Scouting the Vandals
Idaho is 5-9 and 2-1 in WAC play. Derisa Taleni leads Idaho in scoring at 13.8 points a game. She is also averaging 6.7 rebounds a contest. Yinka Olorunnife is netting 13.5 points and grabbing a team-high 9.8 rebounds a game.
Bulldogs vs. Idaho
Fresno State leads the overall series 6-1 with the Bulldogs winning the last six meetings. Last year Fresno State defeated Idaho, 68-59 in Moscow and 68-38 in Fresno.
Hot Start
Fresno State's 11-4 start to the season is the second best record in school history through 15 games. Four teams boast 12-3 records (1989-90, 1986-87, 1985-86, 1984-85) while this years team is one of four teams with 11-4 marks. The 2005-06, 2004-05 and the 1988-89 team also was 11-4 through 15 games. The best 16-game start is 13-3 by the same teams while the 2005-06 team had a 12-4 record.
Off the Bench
The bench of the Bulldogs came up big in the 78-50 victory over Hawai'i as Ashley Walker, Taja Edwards and Brittny Jones all had career highs in points. Walker had 13, Edwards 12 and Jones 11. LaToya Brown had five assists and no turnovers while Joh-Teena Filipe had six rebounds. Edwards also had seven rebounds. The bench scored 38 points in the victory.
Ross Climbing the School Record Books
Jaleesa Ross has hit 131 3-pointers on 327 attempts in her short career at Fresno State. The 131 three's puts her in fifth place on the Career 3-point Field Goals leaders. She needs 17 3-pointers to pass Chantella Perera and move into fourth place. Her .401 3-point field goal percentage ranks her third on the career 3-point field goal percentage Top 10 list.
Battle of the Boards
Fresno State is out rebounding its opponents 43.9 to 37.4 good for a plus 6.5 margin. The mark is the best in the WAC. The Bulldogs have out rebounded their opponents by 10 rebounds or more in seven games. All seven of those games resulted in wins. Fresno State has 50 rebounds or more in three games. Fresno State is 11-1 when out rebounding opponents.
Love The Three Ball
Fresno State is set to be another hot shooting team from the perimeter. Last year the team hit a school record 262 3-pointers and attempted a school record 762 three's. Jaleesa Ross tied the single season 3-point record by hitting 89 last season. The Bulldogs are already 147-436 from the 3-point line and shooting 33.7 percent from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs hit 13 3-pointers in the season opener against Cal-State Bakersfield and against TCU. Dating back to last year the Bulldogs have 10 3-pointers or more in a game in 23 different games. Through 15 games Fresno State was 112-325 from beyond the arc and after 16 games they were 119-345.
Fears Dishes the Ball
LaShay Fears has been distributing the ball well for the Bulldogs. In the last two games she has 11 assists to no turnovers. In Monday's win over Boise State she had six assists and no turnovers and then had five assists to no turnovers against Hawai'i. It is the fourth time this year she has had no turnovers in a game. Fears had nine assists to zero turnovers in the win over No. 22 TCU. Since 2003-04 Mirenda Swearengin is the only other player to have nine assists in a game. Fears had three assists and no turnovers in a win over Cal State Northridge.
"Join the State - Fresno State"Fresno State plays host to Idaho on Saturday at 2 p.m.The game can be heard live on 790 ESPN Radio. Tickets are on sale now through the Save Mart Center box office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or online at ticketmaster.com.
