Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Idaho
Bulldogs Back in WAC Tourney Title Game
3/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 12, 2010
RENO, Nev. - It's back to the WAC Tournament championship game for the Fresno State women's basketball team. The Bulldogs defeated Idaho, 80-66 on Friday afternoon at the Lawlor Events Center to earn a berth in the programs third straight championship game. The Bulldogs are now 27-5 and have won 19 straight games going into Saturday's title game.
"We are excited to be here," Fresno State junior guard Jaleesa Ross said. "It is brand new team on the floor for us. Everybody else has a different team this year. We have to keep everybody focused."
The Bulldogs had three players that recorded double-doubles led by Ross' 25 points and 10 rebounds. Rosie Moult had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Joh-Teena Filipe had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Hayley Munro just missed a double-double as she had 17 points and nine rebounds.
The Bulldogs shot 33 percent from the field but they out rebounded the Vandals 59-43. The 59 rebounds is a season-high for the Dogs.
"It was a great effort," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. "Every time I looked around we were sharing the ball and running the floor really well. We had fast breaks that they didn't complete but they were trying to and I think that was key for us today."
A big factor in the Bulldogs victory was the team's ability to get off to quick starts. Fresno State jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first four minutes and Idaho didn't get its first points until the 15:40 mark. A few minutes later Idaho cut the lead to 13-9 but the Bulldogs quickly the next eight points to lead 21-9 with 10:47 left in the half after two free throws by Filipe.
"We had a gutsy performance," Wiggins said. "From my perspective we just played a really good Idaho team. They have played so well lately. They are very well-coached and they just don't quit. We got up 10-0 and they are still fighting. We make a run and they bring it back. It is a compliment to their character."
Fresno State led 42-32 at halftime and scored the first nine points of the second half to lead 51-32 with 15:01 to play in the game. Idaho didn't get its first field goal until the 13:33 mark of the second half. By then the Bulldogs had 54-37 lead.
Idaho got no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
"It was a great team effort," Ross said. "Our seniors did a really good job of keeping everybody focused whenever Idaho went on a run and bringing us back together. They just said `Let's do what we do and not worry about them and just be us.'"
"We Are Your Team"- The Fresno State women's basketball team plays Louisiana Tech on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the WAC Tournament championship game. The game can be seen live on ESPNU or heard 790 ESPN Radio.
