Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
USC
Bulldogs Battle USC Tough
11/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2009
LOS ANGELES - The Fresno State women's basketball team gave USC all it could handle Sunday evening at the Galen Center but the end result still wasn't what the Bulldogs hoped for as USC defeated Fresno State 68-63. The loss drops Fresno State to 1-1 while USC improved to 1-1.
"You have to give a lot of credit to USC," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. "They played a well-coached basketball game and they made good choices. We just didn't play a complete enough game to come away with the victory. We fouled them too many times which gave them too many easy shots and free throws and they made them."
Jaleesa Ross led Fresno State with 22 points while Hayley Munro had 21 on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. Munro hit 5-of-7 3-pointers and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 34 percent from the field and were out rebounded 42-38. There were nine ties and 10 lead changes in the game.
Fresno State had its biggest lead of the game at 55-48 with 9:40 to play in the game after two Munro free throws. The Bulldogs were then held scoreless for six minutes and fell behind 61-55 before Ross hit a jumper with 3:37 to play in the game.
Munro later tied the game at 63 on a 3-pointer with 1:58 to play but Fresno State had four turnovers in the final two minutes to give Southern California the five-point victory.
Fresno State led 32-29 at halftime. During the first 20 minutes the lead changed hands nine times and there six ties. Both teams biggest lead in the first period was five points.
USC jumped out to a 7-2 lead but a 3-pointer by Brittny Jones tied the game at seven five minutes into the game. After both teams exchanged leads over the next 10 minutes Fresno State took a 26-21 lead on a jumper by Munro at the 5:46 mark in the half.
Fresno State led 32-27 with under a minute to play but USC's Briana Gilbreath scored with 23 seconds left to cut the Bulldog lead to three.
The Bulldogs then led the entire second half until USC took its first lead at 56-55 with six minutes to play in the game.
Fresno State returns to the road on Wednesday when it plays at TCU at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Fresno State plays its home opener on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Saint Mary's.
"We are Your Team"The Fresno State women's basketball team returns to the Save Mart Center on Sunday, Nov. 22 when they host Saint Mary's at 2 p.m. For ticket information click on the tickets link at the top of the page.
