Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UC Santa Barbara
Bulldogs Down UCSB in Season Opener
11/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2009
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- The UC Santa Barbara women's basketball team doesn't lose very often at the Thunderdome. Since 1991, the Gauchos were 200-38 at home. But on Friday, in the season opening game for Fresno State, the Bulldogs handed UCSB its 39th home loss as they earned a hard fought 84-76 victory. It is the second straight year Fresno State has won its season opener.
"For us to come down here and play a team like Santa Barbara with their history is big," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. "We just told our team in the locker room that UCSB will finish first or second in their league and go back to the NCAA tournament. Santa Barbara doesn't lose here very often."
Jaleesa Ross led the Bulldogs with a career-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. She was 4-of-6 from 3-point line. She had six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in the game.
"We attacked the basket hard and made people respect our drive," Ross said. "That was how I got open. I was able to get shots off our mismatch."
Joh-Teena Filipe had 12 points and five rebounds and Taja Edwards tied her career high of 12 points and had seven rebounds off the bench in 17 minutes of play.
Fresno State shot 41 percent from the field and hit 10 3-pointers on 25 attempts. The Dogs and Gauchos both had 35 rebounds with Marnique Arnold leading the way for Fresno State with nine.
UCSB shot 56 percent from the floor but forced 21 turnovers.
"We really played together in a hostile environment," Wiggins said. "Santa Barbara has great home tradition and for us to come in and win a game against a tournament team is great for our program."
Fresno State led 45-41 at halftime. UCSB started the second half scoring the first eight points to take a 49-45 lead four minutes into the final period. The Bulldogs tied the game at 51 three minutes thanks to 3-pointers by Ashley Walker and Rosie Moult.
Fresno State then took the lead for good at 54-53 on a Filipe 3-pointer with 12:22 to play in the game. Fresno State then scored 10 straight points to lead 64-53 after a layup by Ross with 8:53 to play in the game.
UCSB got no closer than five points the rest of the game.
In the first half both teams scorched the net as Santa Barbara shot 60 percent and the Bulldogs shot 52 percent. Ross had 15 first half points and Edwards had 10 points.
Fresno State continues its road trip on Sunday when they play at USC. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. and the game can be heard live on 790 ESPN Radio, the Deuce.
"We are Your Team" - The Fresno State women's basketball team plays its home opener on Nov. 22 against Saint Mary's. For ticket information log onto gobulldogs.com
