Fresno State Athletics
`Dogs Fall to No. 23 USC
11/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 11, 2011
LOS ANGELES - The Fresno State women's basketball team started out strong with an 11-0 run early in the game, but fell to No. 23 USC 65-57 on Friday night.
The Bulldogs (0-1, 0-0 WAC) held the Women of Troy scoreless for the first five minutes and led most of the first half before nationally ranked USC took the lead.
"USC handled the pressure well," said head coach Wiggins. "They are ranked No. 23 in nation, so we expected them to play well."
The `Dogs had two score double digits in the first game of the season. Sophomore Ki- Ki Moore led the team with 15 points and Rosie Moult added 13 points on the night. Moult also led the team with nine rebounds.
"We are pretty young right now and we feel our better days are ahead of us," said Wiggins. "We've been around long enough that we expected to be a little better. We made mistakes and we will learn from them."
Senior Veronica Wilson scored the first basket of the night at the 18:56 mark giving the `Dogs the lead 2-0. Wilson scored the first six points for the Bulldogs that began the 11-0 early run. Defensively, the Bulldogs did not give up a basket until the 15:10 mark.
Sophomore Taylor Thompson picked up a steal and tossed the ball to Moult. The junior kicked it out to Moore, who drained the first 3-pointer of the season for the `Dogs. Fresno State finished the night with seven three's.
USC got its first lead of the game with 10 minutes left in the first half. The next 10 minutes until the half time break saw five lead changes. Senior Blakely Goldberg put an end to a 4-0 run by USC by hitting a 3-pointer that brought the `Dogs within two in the final minutes of the half.
USC headed into the locker room with the 29-28 edge over the `Dogs. Moore led the team with seven points in the first half, while Moult led the team in rebounds with six.
USC opened the second half with a 6-0 run that increased its lead to 35-28 over the Bulldogs. Moult ended the run with an easy layup and the `Dogs trailed by 5 with 14:13 left in the game.
With just over 10 minutes left in the game, Thompson picked up her fourth assist of the night as she dished it out to Moore. Moore took it to the hoop for two more points as the `Dogs trailed 37-36.
Preseason All-WAC election Moult hit a 3-pointer, which gave the `Dogs their first lead since the first half with under eight minutes remaining.
USC gained a 10-point lead over the Bulldogs late in the game. Jacki Gemelos led the Women of Troy with 18 points.
Back-to-back three's from Moult and sophomore Bree Farley brought the `Dogs within seven with just over a minute left on the clock. Fresno State scored three late baskets for seven points, but it was not enough to hold off USC, who won 65-57.
Fresno State hosts Santa Clara on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. in its home opener at the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs will hold a special ring ceremony prior to the game to award the 2010-11 team its WAC Championship rings.
"We Are Your Team" -- The Bulldogs host Santa Clara in their home opener is on Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. For tickets log on to gobulldogs.com or call 278-DOGS.
