Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Fresno Pacific
`Dogs Soar Past Sunbirds
11/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State women's basketball team opened the 2011-12 season with a dominating 122-49 win over Fresno Pacific in the annual exhibition game.
"It's fun to come out and play a game against a cross town rival," said head coach Adrian Wiggins. "I find that it is always a fun game to play. There are several former Fresno State people over there building a program and we're excited for them."
The Bulldogs are now 8-0 against FPU in exhibition games dating back to 2003 and have outscored the Sunbirds, 720-423. A season ago with a mature and experienced team, the Bulldogs defeated Fresno Pacific by 54. This season with five new players, including three first-year starters, the `Dogs beat the Sunbirds by 73 points.
"Defensively, we worked on a few things," said Wiggins. "I thought we did a good job with our rotations and communication. We recognized when we messed up, which is a plus for us right now. And that didn't happen too many times, which is also great."
Freshman Alex Sheedy led the team with 22 points on the night. Also scoring double-digits was Madison Parrish, Ki-Ki Moore, Rosie Moult, Alex Furr, Bree Farley and Taylor Thompson.
"It was great to get out and finally play a game," said Sheedy. "It feels like home here already and I really enjoy playing with this team."
The `Dogs recorded 22 steals compared to the Sunbirds one steal all night. Also, the Bulldogs out rebounded FPU, 56-30. Thompson led the team in rebounds with a total of nine in the game.
Fresno State made 25 of 39 (59.1) baskets from the free throw line on the night. Sheedy drained six out of nine fress throw attempts.
The Bulldogs opened the game with a 20-2 run in the first six and half minutes of the game. Parrish began the run with the Bulldogs first two baskets. Her first five points gave the `Dogs an early 5-0 lead over the Sunbirds.
Parrish continued to make an impact early in the game recording two assists in the first half. One assist she earned after dribbling around her defender with a spin move and making a bounce pass under the basket to Sheedy for an easy lay-up and two more points for the `Dogs.
The Bulldogs continued to pass the ball around and had 16 first half assists, three of which came from sophomore point guard Ki-Ki Moore. She whipped a pass back to Farley under the basket for lay-up to end the first half with the `Dogs leading 65-27. Fresno State ended the night with 30 assists.
Thompson led the Bulldogs in scoring in the first half with 12 points. The sophomore drained three-of-four 3-point attempts. Thompson, along with Moore led the team in rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play with five apiece.
In the second half, senior Blakeley Goldberg drained a 3-pointer from well behind the arc. Goldberg finished the night with eight points, five rebounds and three steals.
Moore grabbed a rebound under the basket and put it back up for two as the Bulldogs hit the triple-digit mark with a 100-45 lead over the Sunbirds.
The Bulldogs went a 15-0 run in the second half and led by as many as 75 points. Fresno State forced 38 turnovers by the Sunbirds and scored 56 points off turnovers.
Fresno State hits the road for its 2011-12 season opener against USC on Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. at the Galen Center.
"We Are Your Team!"-- The Bulldogs open the season on the road against USC on Nov. 11. The `Dogs host Santa Clara in their home opener on Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. For tickets log on to gobulldogs.com or call 278-DOGS.
