March 13, 2009
Box Score | Notes
Utah State Photo Gallery
RENO, Nev. - The Fresno State women's basketball team is in the WAC tournament championship game for the second straight year. The Bulldogs went on an 11-2 run over the final five minutes of the game to defeat Utah State 57-54 on Friday afternoon at the Lawlor Events Center. Fresno State is now 23-8 and while Utah State ended the season 16-15. This is the third time in school history the Bulldogs have advanced to the title game.
Fresno State plays No. 3 seeded Nevada on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the tournament championship. The winner gets the automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. The game can be heard live on 790 ESPN Radio and seen on a tape delay basis on ESPN U at 9 p.m. Pacific Time.
"I was very impressed with Utah State and its effort," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. "They have so much heart from their crowd, band, students and coaching effort. They really do a good job. I am very thankful we came out with a win. You saw a lot of runs in this game. The reason for that is that people were trying very hard. I am very proud of our team's effort. It was the little things that got us through this game, rebounding, sharing the basketball and trying on defense."
Jaleesa Ross scored a game-high 21 points and tied the single season school record with her five 3-pointers made. Ross now has 89 3's this season, tying her mark of last year.
LaShay Fears scored a career-high 18 points, 14 coming in the first half and dished out four assists. Bailey Amundsen had eight points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Joh-Teena Filipe had a game-high 11 rebounds and Fresno State out rebounded the Aggies 45-43.
"We got a big effort from a lot of people," Wiggins said.
Friday's semifinal game was a game of runs by both teams. The most critical run came at the end of the game when the Bulldogs closed out Utah State with an 11-2 run after trailing 52-46 with 5:07 to play.
With 4:50 to play in the game Ross scored a bucket to bring the `Dogs within four at 52-48. A little over a minute later Marnique Arnold converted a three-point play to cut the Utah State lead to 52-51. Ross followed with a 3-pointer with 2:40 left in the game to give Fresno State a 54-52 lead.
Utah State's Lydia Whitehead hit two free throws with 53 seconds left to tie the game at 54. Hayley Munro then hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 26.5 seconds left to give Fresno State the 57-54 lead.
"Coach Frank suggested we put her in," Wiggins said on Munro's 3-pointer. " Hayley is a good player. She just created off our guards penetration. We shoot that shot all week, every day, every practice. It was nice to see it go in."
The Bulldogs led at halftime 36-24. To open the second half, the Bulldogs were held to seven points in the first 12 minutes and Utah State jumped out to a 46-43 lead with 8:48 to play in the game. Amundsen then hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 46 with 8:24 to play. Utah State then scored the next six points to lead 52-46 with 5:07 to play.
"We were definitely stunned," Wiggins said on Utah State's runs. "How many times can you swing at somebody? It was a great effort by them. We thankfully turned the momentum around and got some stops."
"Join the State - Fresno State" Tipoff for Saturday's championship game can be heard live on 790 ESPN Radio and seen on a tape delay basis on ESPN U at 9 p.m. Pacific Time.
