Fresno State Athletics
July 15: Ross Becomes First Back-to-Back WAC Tourney MVP
7/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
July 15, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State Athletics has had many memorable moments during its history. Each day during the month of July, Gobulldogs.com will highlight a great moment from Fresno State Athletics history.
July 15: Jaleesa Ross sets school 3-point record and becomes the first player in WAC history to be named WAC Tournament MVP in back-to-back seasons.
It hasn't taken Jaleesa Ross long to etch her name all over the WAC and Fresno State record books. In just two years, Ross set the single season 3-point record as a sophomore with 95 3-pointers in the 2008-09 season and she became the first player in the history of the WAC to garner WAC Tournament MVP honors in back-to-back seasons.
Being named tournament MVP in consecutive seasons is even more impressive considering players such as Becky Hammons, Cheryl Ford and Julie Krommenhoek have all been highly decorated players at the national level.
As a freshman, Ross earned MVP honors after she averaged 21.3 points and shot 45 percent from the 3-point line. She also shot 60 percent from the field (21-for-35) while scoring 23 points (8-of-9 from the field) in the opening round game against San Jose State. In the semi-final game against Louisiana Tech she had 21 points and six assists and in the championship game against New Mexico State she had 20 points.
In the 2009 tournament Ross averaged 18.7 points while shooting 44 percent from the field (20-for-45) and 46 percent from the 3-point line (12-for-26). In the championship game against Nevada she played all 40 minutes and had 22 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Ross had 21 points in the overtime semi-final win over Utah State and she opened the tournament with 13 points, six rebounds and six steals against Hawaii.
Since coming to Fresno State Ross has also turned into one of the deadliest three-point shooters in the country. After tying the single-season school record for 3-pointers made in a season with 89 as a freshman, she hit 95 in her sophomore campaign and she currently ranks No. 4 in the Fresno State record books for most 3-pointers made in a career. The 95 3-pointers is the is the fifth best mark in WAC history and she is five 3-pointers away from moving into the WAC Top 10 for most 3-pointers made in a career.
The Bulldog sharpshooter garnered second-team All-WAC honors and WAC Newcomer of the Year accolades as a freshman and in 2009 she earned first-team All-WAC honors.
Coming tomorrow: In 2002 Fresno State was the only school to have a first round NFL, NBA and MLB draft pick.
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