Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Arrive in Berkeley
3/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Complete Release in PDF Format 
FRESNO, Calif.- The Fresno State women's basketball team is ready for its third straight NCAA tournament appearance. The Bulldogs left the North Gym on Thursday afternoon at 1:15 p.m. with fans, media and other Fresno State officials and employees in attendance. The band and cheerleaders were also there to give the Bulldogs a send off.
The team is staying at the Four Points by Sheraton and arrived to the hotel a little after 4 p.m. Upon arriving at the hotel the team was welcomed by a staff decked out in Bulldog clothing with Fresno State banners and ballons hanging from inside the hotel.
Fresno State plays Baylor on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN 2.
Bulldogs Return to the NCAA Tournament
For the third straight year the Fresno State women's basketball team is returning to the NCAA tournament and for the first time in school history the Bulldogs received an at-large berth to the tournament. The Bulldogs earned a No. 13 seed for the second straight year and will play No. 4 seeded Baylor. This is the second time in three years the two teams have played a first-round NCAA tournament game.<>
Fresno State vs. Baylor
The series between the two schools is tied at 2-2. Three of the now five meetings have been in post season play. Fresno State won the first two meetings in 1989 and 1990 and the Bears won the next two meetings in 2003, 72-65 and in the 2008 NCAA tournament Baylor beat Fresno State 88-67 at the University of New Mexico in the first round. The 2003 meeting was in the first round of the WNIT.
Scouting the Lady Bears
Baylor is led by the play of freshman Brittney Griner's 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds a game. She is shooting 52 percent from the floor. Baylor is averaging 72 points a game and shooting 46 percent from the floor. Opponents are being held to 33 percent shooting from the field.
Fresno State at the NCAA Tournament
For the third straight year the Bulldogs are in the NCAA tournament. Fresno State had never made the tournament before 2008. In 2008 the Bulldogs lost to Baylor 88-67 and then in 2009 No. 4 seeded Cal beat the Bulldogs 70-47 at USC.
Recapping the 2010 WAC Tournament
Fresno State advanced to the WAC Tournament Championship game for the third straight year. After winning the tournament in 2007 and 2008 the Bulldogs lost to Louisiana Tech in this year's title game, 68-66. Jaleesa Ross and Hayley Munro earned WAC All-Tournament honors. Fresno State set a WAC Tournament record for 3-pointers made with 32. The previous record was 27. In the first-round win over Hawai'i the 83-55 win was the largest margin of victory in a WAC Tournament game for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs had three players record double-doubles in the semi-final win over Idaho. Jaleesa Ross had 25 points and 10 rebuonds to lead the way. The 59 rebounds the Dogs had was the most in at least seven years.
National Honors
Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins has been named the WBCA Region 7 Coach of the Year. He is now a finalist for the WBCA National Coach of the Year Award with Geno Auriemma of UCONN, Sue Semrau of Florida State, Matthew Mitchell of Kentucky, Joe Foley of Arkansas Little Rock, Connie Yori of Nebraska, Robin Pingeton of Illinois State. Jaleesa Ross was named to the WBCA All-Region 7 team and she is now a finalist for the All-American Honors.
Bulldogs Earn All-WAC Honors
For the second time in three years Adrian Wiggins was named the WAC Coach of the Year and for the second straight year Jaleesa Ross earned first-team All-WAC honors. As a freshman she earned second-team All-WAC accolades. Ross was also named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Hayley Munro earned second-team All-WAC honors for the second-straight year while Rosie Moult was named to the All-Freshman Team.
"We Are Your Team"- For up to date information on the Fresno State women's basketball team's trip to the NCAA tournament stay logged onto gobulldogs.com.
