Fresno State Athletics
Up Next For Dogs? No. 9 Oklahoma
11/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2010
Bulldogs Head To Oklahoma
After splitting two games at home last week, Fresno State hits the road again, this time for a nonconference matchup against national heavyweight Oklahoma (No. 9 ESPN/USA Today, No. 11 AP). The Bulldogs are coming off a hard-fought 67-63 victory over UC Irvine. Senior forward Marnique Arnold earned her first start of the season and finished with a career-high 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting. Senior forward Hayley Munro posted her third double-double of the season with 18 points and a career-high 18 rebounds.
Scouting The Sooners
Under the guise of head coach Sherri Coale, Oklahoma has long established itself as one of the premier programs in the nation. The Sooners have captured six Big 12 regular-season titles and have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen seven times. Last season, Oklahoma extended its postseason run all the way to the national semifinals for the second year in a row. And so, far the team has picked up right where it left off. All-American guard Danielle Robinson scored 20 points, as the Sooners beat Western Illinois 84-43 last week. Oklahoma forced 23 turnovers in the victory, pushing its miscues total to 56 in two games. This is the first meeting between the Sooners and Fresno State.
Wiggins Against Nationally Ranked Teams
Since Adrian Wiggins was named head coach of the Bulldogs in 2005, his team is 3-7 against nationally ranked opponents. In its last matchup with a ranked opponent, Fresno State fell 69-55 to then-No. 14 Baylor in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs haven't beaten a ranked opponent since the 2008-09 season when they topped then-No. 22 TCU 75-71.
Bulldog Wins Against Nationally Ranked Opponents Since 1990
Dec. 4, 2008, Fresno State 75, No. 22 TCU 71
Dec. 1, 2006, Fresno State 74, No. 23 Texas Tech 65
Nov. 21, 2006, Fresno State 61, No. 18 BYU 51
Feb. 8, 1992, Fresno State 86, No. 25 Long Beach State 84 (OT)
Jan. 23, 1991, Fresno State 73, No. 24 Long Beach State 72 (at LBS)
Feb. 24, 1990, Fresno State 73, No. 2 UNLV 65
Oklahoma Connections
Although this is Fresno State's first time playing the Sooners, its ties with the state of Oklahoma run deep. Starting point guard Taylor Thompson is an Oklahoma native, hailing from Cache, Okla. What's more, nearly the entire coaching staff has roots in the Sooner State. Associate head coach Brett Frank, assistant coach Saadia Jones and Wiggins all call Oklahoma home. Not surprisingly, Fresno State will definitely have a strong fan presence at the Lloyd Noble Center on Monday, as Wiggins said nearly 200 ticket requests have been made.
Fresno State Picked To Win WAC, Again
Given the way the Bulldogs have performed in the WAC recently, perhaps it's no surprise they were selected to win the conference title again this year. Fresno State, winners of three consecutive WAC championships, collected seven of nine first-place votes in the recent coaches' preseason poll and 14 of 18 in the media poll. Fresno State, La Tech and Nevada were the top three-rated teams in both polls. Senior guard Jaleesa Ross was selected as the preseason player of the year.
Ross' Record Watch
Senior guard Jaleesa Ross, the Preseason WAC Player of the Year, heads into her final season with her sights set on a number of prestigious marks. One of the best 3-point shooters in the nation, Ross has made 296 3-pointers during her career and currently sits in third place in the WAC for 3-point field goals made. Already Fresno State's leader in that category, Ross is 96 away from becoming the NCAA's all-time leader for 3-pointers made. Former Kansas State guard Laurie Koehn holds the current record with 392 treys. Ross made 103 last season.
Ross' Record Watch Part II
Jaleesa Ross is also threatening to become Fresno State's all-time leading scorer. She has already amassed 1,520 points in her career and is currently in fourth place on the Fresno State all-time scoring list. She needs 75 more points to pass Wendy Martell (1,595) and move into third place and 259 to leap to the top of the list, surpassing Yvette Roberts (1,778 points).
"We Are Your Team!"-- Fresno State will return to the Save Mart Center on Nov. 28 for an afternoon match-up with Pepperdine. Find out how to get special tickets by visiting The Bulldog Shop at the corner of Cedar and Barstow Avenues as a part of "Black Friday Turns Red," Fresno State's Greatest Week Long Sales Event.
