Nevada 55, Louisiana Tech 54
Ruston, La. ? The Nevada women's basketball team takes great pride in its defense so it was fitting that the biggest win in the Kim Gervasoni era was secured by a steal.Senior Jessica Preslar stole an inbounds pass with 2.9 seconds remaining and the Nevada women’s basketball team beat Louisiana Tech for the first time in school history on Thursday night, 55-54 at the Thomas Assembly Center.
The Wolf Pack had never beaten the Lady Techsters in 12 tries but Thursday proved to be lucky No. 13. Nevada improved to 10-8 overall and extended its best-ever WAC start to 4-1. Louisiana Tech fell to 8-10 and 3-2.Senior Traci Graham led the way with 14 points. Dellena Criner battled foul trouble and scored seven points, with her last bucket coming with 38 seconds to play and giving Nevada the 55-54 lead.
Marianne Lombardi then rebounded an April Williams miss and Criner was later fouled with 14.2 to play. But Criner missed both free throws, giving Louisiana Tech a shot at the win. After a jump ball with 2.9 seconds to play, the Lady Techsters inbounded the ball and Preslar picked it off to secure the victory.
The loss was just the second conference defeat at home for Louisiana Tech since 1992.Nevada led by as many as seven in the second half before the Lady Techsters rallied with an 11-2 run to take a 50-48 lead with under four minutes to play. But the Pack battled back and tied it at 52.
The teams were tied at 20 after a highly defensive first half. Each team forced 13 turnovers and both struggled to shoot the ball with Nevada hitting 30 percent from the field compared to 32 percent for the Lady Techsters.Brandi Fitzgerald scored five points for the Pack in the first half while Marianne Lombardi and Andrea Sitton each scored four points.
Fresno State 70, San Jose State 63
San Jose, Calif. - In a game that was closer than expected, Fresno State turned to one of their strengths, free throw shooting, along with big games from their stars Tierre Wilson and Chantella Perera to take a tough road game at San Jose State 70-63. Wilson led the Bulldogs with 17 points, and Perera added 15 as Fresno State improved to 4-1 in WAC play. The Bulldogs shot 45% on the night and hit six straight free throws down the stretch to get the win.
Fresno State finished the night 27-60 from the field and 14-20 on the line. Along with Perera and Wilson, Paige Diggs ended the game in double figures with 13 points, and Jenny Thigpin added 8 with 11 rebounds to spark the Bulldogs in the post.
SJSU controlled the early game, hitting 4 of their first 6 shots to move out to an early lead, combined with a technical foul on Tierre Wilson. Fresno State hung around, however, and tied the game at 10-10 after a Chantella Perera jumper in the lane.
Fresno State took a 13-12 lead after a Perera free throw, and moved out to their biggest lead of the game at 15-12 after a Roberson jumper. The Bulldogs continued to extend their lead, moving out to a 22-16 advantage as Wilson hit the first three for Fresno State as the teams moved towards the 10-minute mark.
Continuing to add pressure, Fresno State moved out to a 13 point lead, but San Jose State moved back into the game at the end of the half, cutting the lead all the way down to four with a Lynette Jacobs three-point play in the final minutes, but Paige Diggs hit a last second shot to send the `Dogs to the break with a 40-34 advantage.
San Jose State continued to use the momentum gained at the end of the half, cutting the Bulldogs lead down to three at 44-41, and moved ahead at 47-46 as the Lynette Jacobs again took a drive down through the paint. Fresno State answered back at that point, taking back the lead at 50-49, and following a huge Jenny Thigpin block with a three from Wilson to jump ahead 53-49 with 11:45 in the second half.
Both teams would continue to hit baskets, as each team turned the ball over, leading to easy points on both sides. The tempo lent itself to Fresno State, however, and the Bulldogs moved ahead by 8 points in the closing minutes 64-56.
Fresno State has the rest of the week off, getting a slight respite before continuing WAC play. Next up for the Bulldogs is a home game against Nevada on Thursday, Jan. 25 before hitting the road to play Louisiana Tech that Saturday.