Fresno State Athletics
Dogs To Renew Rivalry With La. Tech
1/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2011
FRESNO STATE vs. Louisiana Tech
When: Thursday, Jan. 13
Time: 6 p.m.
Where: Save Mart Center (Fresno, Calif.)
Radio: ESPN 790
TV: ESPNU
Records: Fresno State (11-5, 2-0 WAC) beat Idaho 84-67 on Monday. Louisiana Tech (10-5, 2-0) beat Hawaii in OT 74-69 on Saturday.
Bulldogs Return Home To "Pack The House"
After opening WAC play with back-to-back road wins, Fresno State returns home to take on rival Louisiana Tech. There is much more on the line than just early conference supremacy, as the game is also part of the NCAA Pack the House Challenge, an annual promotion designed to promote women's basketball nationwide. The Bulldogs, who won their third consecutive conference championship last season with a resounding 16-0 finish, are looking to break their current attendance record of 7,042, which was set during the 2004-05 season.
Scouting The Lady Techsters
Louisiana Tech comes to the Central Valley riding a three-game winning streak, including a 74-69 overtime victory at Hawaii on Saturday. Whitney Jones scored a team-high 18 points for the Lady Techsters. Two-time Olympian and five-time WNBA All-Star Teresa Weatherspoon is in her second full season as head coach at Louisiana Tech.
The Series vs. LA Tech
The Louisiana Tech-Fresno State rivalry has blossomed into one of the strongest in the WAC. The Bulldogs are 8-15 all-time against the Lady Techsters, and while Fresno State swept the regular season in 2009-10, it comes into Thursday's game with revenge on its mind. After all, Louisiana Tech beat the Bulldogs 68-66 in last season's WAC Tournament championship game, snapping their 19-game winning streak.
Last Time Out
Jaleesa Ross' hot streak continued Monday, as the senior guard scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Bulldogs to an 84-67 win at Idaho. Ross, who is averaging 23.2 points over the past five games, hit eight 3-pointers. As a team, Fresno State set a new school record by making 18 3-pointers, two more than the program's previous high. The victory came without coach Adrian Wiggins, who was ejected in the final seconds of the first half after picking up a pair of technicals. It was Wiggins' first ejection since being named head coach in 2005.
WAC Winning Streak
Fresno State has won 20 consecutive WAC regular-season games dating back to the 2008-09 season. That mark is the third best in conference history behind Louisiana Tech's 23-game winning streak from 2003-05 and its 22-game spree from 2002-04. The Bulldogs haven't lost a conference game since falling to Louisiana Tech 80-62 on March 2, 2009.
Thompson Earns WAC Player of the Week Honors
Freshman point guard Taylor Thompson received WAC Player of the Week honors following her 21-point effort at Utah State. She also had four assists and four steals in 30 minutes. It was Thompson's first such honor of her career and the first for a Fresno State player this season.
Ross' Record Watch
Senior guard Jaleesa Ross 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 342 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 51 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 1,724 points in her career and is currently in second place on the Fresno State all-time scoring list. She needs 55 more points to leap to the top of the list, surpassing Yvette Roberts (1,778 points).
"We Are Your Team!"-- Make sure to head to the Save Mart Center on Thursday when Fresno State takes on rival Louisiana Tech in the WAC "Pack the House" challenge. Help the Bulldogs break the current attendance record of 7,042 and be a part of a nationally televised audience, as the game will be televised on ESPNU. The first 1,500 fans through the doors get a free pompom to help cheer on the team.
