Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Bring Sharp-Shooting Rep To Dance
3/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 18, 2011
NCAA Tournament
No. 12 FRESNO STATE vs No. 5 North Carolina
When: Saturday, March 19
Time: 1 p.m.
Where: The Pit (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Radio: 1430 ESPN
TV: ESPN2
Records: Fresno State (25-7) beat Louisiana Tech 78-76 last Saturday. North Carolina (26-8) beat Kennesaw State 98-52 on Sunday.
Sylvia Hatchell took her place at the podium Friday morning, donning her traditional powder blue North Carolina Basketball sweats, and began addressing the media when her thoughts quickly turned toward the Fresno State women's basketball team.
Hatchell, the Tar Heels' longtime coach, labeled the Bulldogs an "excellent, excellent team" before lauding them for their proficiency behind the 3-point line
"They're deadly," Hatchell said. "We know they're going to take a lot of 3s. But they're not only great 3-point shooting but great on the drive. We know we've got our work cut out for us because they're so efficient."
Hatchell's preliminary scouting report was correct. The Bulldogs enter the NCAA Tournament with a reputation as one of the best shooting teams in the nation. Indeed, they lead the NCAA in 3-pointers per game at 9.7. But Saturday afternoon's first-round run-in with Hatchell and No. 5-seed North Carolina is about a lot more than just living up to the billing.
No. 12 Fresno State, now making its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, hopes to use its stellar shooting to propel it to even greater heights.
"We really want to break through," said coach Adrian Wiggins, whose team is still searching for its first win in the NCAA Tournament. "We want to be the team that people think can be in the Sweet Sixteen every year. We just want to get better."
That said, even Wiggins concedes part of "breaking through" means becoming more efficient offensively. While the Bulldogs have flourished during the regular season, their pinpoint accuracy from beyond the arc hasn't always followed them to the Big Dance.
In three NCAA Tournament games, Fresno State is shooting just 17-of-69 from 3-point range (24.6 percent).
"We haven't been hot at all," Wiggins said.
Senior forward Hayley Munro also acknowledged the Bulldogs' struggles but was quick to view Saturday as a brand new chance.
"We have not had a really good shooting time at the NCAAs," she said. "I don't know what's it's attributed to. Hopefully, we'll have a better game. We've just got to shoot better."
With the likes of Munro, sophomore forward Rosie Moult and senior guard Jaleesa Ross roaming the floor, Fresno State certainly has the talent to do so. Ross is currently seventh in the nation with 3.1 3-pointers per game. And with 385 career 3-pointers to her name, she is just eight away from breaking former Kansas State star Laurie Koehn's record and becoming the NCAA's all-time leader for 3-pointers made.
"I get goosebumps (thinking about what Ross has done)," Wiggins said. "She's eight 3-pointers shy. That's amazing."
Then he paused and smiled.
"If she can make eight 3-pointers tomorrow, we'd be happy."
Should Ross make history, it would mean doing so against a North Carolina team that boasts one of the best defenses in the nation. Behind the play of 6-foot-3 senior forward Jessica Breland and guards Cetera DeGraffenreid and Italee Lucas , the Tar Heels are sixth in the country in field goal percentage defense and 39th in 3-point defense.
Ross said the Bulldogs are up for the challenge. After all, for their five seniors, this could be their last chance.
"It means everything," Ross said. "It's what we came here for. It's been our goal since we put on our jerseys. It's not surprising we're here. We just had to get it done. ... This could possibly be our last college basketball game, so not much has to be said."
"We Are Your Team!" -- No. 12 seed Fresno State is set to play No. 5 seed North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. The game begins at 1 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2.
