Mirenda Swearengin and Tierre Wilson scored 17 points apiece and Fresno State defeated four-time defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech for the first time in school history 67-58 on Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center.
Chantella Perera added 12 points for the Bulldogs (11-4, 3-0 WAC), who rallied from an eight-point deficit midway through the second period to secure their fourth consecutive win. An enthusiastic, season-high crowd of 3,115 roared its approval in the waning seconds as Fresno State celebrated at center court as time expired.
Louisiana Tech (11-4, 3-1 WAC) entered the game owning an 11-0 all-time record against Fresno State, with six of those wins coming by margins of at least 20 points. However, the previous three contests had all been decided by 10 points or less, including last year's 92-87 double-overtime thriller in the WAC Tournament semifinals.
With the Lady Techsters and Bulldogs picked to finish 1-2, respectively, in this year's preseason WAC poll, Saturday's meeting figured to be a hard-fought battle. And in the end, the game lived up to its billing.
Fresno State shot 39-percent for the contest while Louisiana Tech made 34.4-percent. The Bulldogs were outrebounded for only the fourth time this year, but made up for it by forcing 20 Lady Techster turnovers and attempting 13 more free throws.
The backcourt play of Swearengin (four rebounds, four assists, three steals) and Wilson (eight rebounds) was the key, as both players repeatedly got to the free throw line and found their teammates with flashy, no-look passes.
In other WAC Action
In women's basketball, Boise State defeated Nevada, 58-50, Saturday (Jan. 14) in the Taco Bell Arena. Jackie Lee led the Broncos with her first career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Jessica Thompson had 17 points and Michelle Hessing added 12.
For the first time this season, the University of Idaho women?™s basketball team found themselves on the positive end of a close game, surviving for a 54-51 win over Utah State. The Vandals (7-8, 3-1), who have four losses this season by a combined eight points, earned their first back-to-back wins of the season with the victory. Utah State (1-13, 0-4) continues to struggle in its first season in the Western Athletic Conference and has now lost all seven road game this season.
The tempo of the game was altered by the 40 combined fouls called during the game. Idaho, who entered the week ranked 35th in the nation for lowest fouls per game (15.5) was whistled for 18 fouls, while Utah State earned 22 violations.
The New Mexico State women?™s basketball team (5-10, 2-2 WAC) picked up its second WAC victory by outlasting host Hawai?™i (10-4, 1-2 WAC) 72-69 in double overtime. Junior guards Cecilia Russell-Nava (Santa Cruz, Calif.) and Irma Kmitaite (Sirvintos, Lithuania) each had 17 points to lead the Aggies to the win.
With New Mexico State ahead 70-69 in double OT, a foul under the basket sent the Rainbow Wahine?™s Tanya Smith to the free throw line with nine seconds left. She missed both foul shots and junior guard Cecilia Russell-Nava (Santa Cruz, Calif.) grabbed the rebound and made two free throws as the Aggies went on to win 72-69.
The San Jose State women?™s basketball team (7-6) won its fourth game in a row, defeating the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (9-7) 64-51 Saturday, January 14, 2006 at The Event Center. Spartan forward Lamisha Augustine had her fourth double-double of the season, leading all scorers with 24 points and a career-high14 rebounds. She also had a career-high six blocked shots, leading the Spartan defense.