Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
4-2
Pepperdine
4-3
Fresno State Tames Waves
11/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2010
To hear Fresno State women's basketball coach Adrian Wiggins tell it, every game presents the Bulldogs with one more chance to get better.
Sunday was no exception. Fresno State pushed the pace, controlled the glass and fended off an early challenge en route to notching a 78-65 win over Pepperdine at the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs have won two of their past three games heading into Wednesday night's road contest at Pacific.
Senior forward Hayley Munro led Fresno State with 17 points and was one of four players to score in double figures.
"I was very pleased with our effort," Wiggins said. "We came out with a great defensive effort. I felt like we had chances to share the ball tonight."
That's just what the Bulldogs did. On a night when senior guard Jaleesa Ross was quiet offensively, Fresno State (4-2) proved it could coast without relying on its typically prolific scorer. Ross, one of the top scorers in Bulldogs history, finished with five points on 2-of-3 shooting, but she had plenty of help.
Freshmen Bree Farley and Alex Furr buried back-to-back 3-pointers to balloon the Fresno State lead to 54-34 midway through the second half. Ross then found Marnique Arnold cutting to the hoop for a 56-35 lead. Farley finished with 12 points, and Arnold added 11. Senior forward Taja Edwards came off the bench and finished with 10 points, eight of which came in the second half. The Bulldogs out-rebounded Pepperdine 44-26.
"They were really getting out and denying (Ross)," Wiggins said. "We went to the middle a lot, which unfortunately was away from Jaleesa, but it did open up opportunities for others."
The Bulldogs also came through on the defensive end, preventing Pepperdine (4-3) from getting many easy looks. The Waves hit 12 3-pointers in last week's 73-69 victory over Temple, but Fresno State was determined to prevent a repeat performance, holding them to a 3-of-15 effort from behind the arc.
"They really play up in your space," Pepperdine guard Katie Menton said. "They get in your jersey and force you to put the ball on the ground.... (On offense), they couldn't miss. They put a dagger in us."
What began as a nip-and-tuck affair quickly turned into a Fresno State romp, thanks in large part to the squad's outside shooting. Munro connected on her first three attempts from the floor, including a 3-pointer from the right wing, to give the Bulldogs a 22-13 lead. Arnold then scored five consecutive points to cap a 10-0 run that put Fresno State in front for good.
Munro and Arnold combined for 21 first-half points, as the Bulldogs led 36-24 at the break.
Fresno State was given a scare late in the first half when starting point guard Taylor Thompson went down with 5:37 remaining. Thompson had to be helped to the locker room but she returned moments later and finished with six assists.
"We Are Your Team!"-- Fresno State returns to the Save Mart Center on Dec. 4 for a nonconference game against TCU. For more information, visit Gobulldogs.com.
