Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
20-7, 11-2
Idaho
13-13, 6-8
Dogs Take Down Vandals
2/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - Apparently, a little bit of pink suits the Fresno State women's basketball team.
The Bulldogs ditched their traditional white home uniforms Thursday night, in favor of some rose-colored ones in support of the "Pink Zone," an annual initiative of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to raise breast cancer awareness.
The color change resulted in more of the same for Fresno State - another convincing victory.
The Bulldogs fended off a fierce challenge from Idaho and picked up their 20th win of the season with a 77-51 victory over the Vandals at the Save Mart Center. Under the guidance of head coach Adrian Wiggins, Fresno State has recorded four consecutive 20-win seasons. Senior forward Taja Edwards paced the Bulldogs with 13 points.
"I thought we played a grind-out type game," Wiggins said. "For us to get back in it at home, I'm just proud of our overall effort. We really got contagious in the second half. I think that was the difference in the game."
After watching its 15-point first-half lead whittled to just six with 10:55 remaining in the game, Fresno State (20-7, 11-2 WAC) got hot, particularly from 3-point range.
First, freshman guard Taylor Thompson (12 points, five steals) hit one. Then senior forward Hayley Munro (12 points, four assists) hit another.
Even junior Veronica Wilson, a 6-foot-2 center, stepped back and showed her range by dropping two in a row to put the Bulldogs up 67-47 with 5:04 to play. Seven of the Bulldogs' nine 3-pointers came in the second half.
"(Shooting the 3) is something that we've always been told big people can't do. `Big people can't shoot 3s,'" said Wilson, who finished with a career-high 12 points. "We work on it a lot. Coach really helps us."
Senior guard Jaleesa Ross had a quiet night offensively, finishing with just four points on 2-of-7 shooting. For the second consecutive game, she was held without a 3-pointer and still needs 24 to break the NCAA record for 3s in a career. What's more, she needs 33 points to surpass Melvin Ely for Fresno State's all-time scoring lead.
Senior forward Marnique Arnold finished with 12 points on 6-of-13 scoring. She also had three assists and two steals.
The new-look Bulldogs dominated from the outset, nabbing a double-digit lead less than 10 minutes into the game.
Thompson was the catalyst for the fast start. Thompson scored seven points and came up with two steals to help give the Bulldogs a quick 11-6 lead. That effort was part of an 11-0 first-half run that gave Fresno State a 17-6 advantage.
Thompson had five steals in the first nine minutes. Idaho (13-13, 6-8) committed 14 turnovers midway through the first half, 27 for the game.
"I always try and play hard," Thompson said. "Tonight, it just worked out for me. My teammates help a lot. They really get us fired up."
"We Are Your Team!" - Be sure to return to the Save Mart Center on March 5, as Fresno State plays its final home game of the regular season and honors its stellar senior class.
