Bulldogs’ 3-pointers stop Rainbow Wahine
Two second-half runs allow Fresno State to pull away on road
STORY SUMMARY »
Hawaii hung with Western Athletic Conference leader Fresno State for most of the game, but the Bulldogs hit 11 3-pointers and went on two crippling second-half runs to pull away for a 75-62 win last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
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HAWAII: 75
Fresno St.: 62
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vs. San Jose State tommorow
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Tanya Smith scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Rainbow Wahine, while fellow post specialist Tara Hittle collected her first career double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Jaleesa Ross led Fresno State with 16 points. Tierre Wilson and LaShaunte Stephens added 15 points apiece.
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The ability to revive control during chaos is one of several reasons why Fresno State leads the Western Athletic Conference.
The Bulldogs tied a team high of 25 turnovers in WAC play, but rallied late behind its talented backcourt of Jaleesa Ross and Tierre Wilson to prevail over Hawaii 75-62 in front of 273 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Fresno State (16-9, 11-1) went on a 14-2 run through the heart of the second half to open up a 58-49 lead with 7 minutes, 48 seconds left, and wrapped things up with a 9-2 spurt after Hawaii had cut the deficit to five with just over 5 minutes to go.
Megan Tinnin carried the Wahine early with four 3-pointers and all of her 14 points before halftime. Combined with versatile starter Saundra Cariaga fouling out in only 15 minutes of play, the Rainbow Wahine (9-15, 3-8) didn't have enough offense to match the Bulldogs basket for basket late.
By forcing 12 steals, Hawaii counteracted its usual crop of cough-ups and gave itself a rare advantage in points off turnovers by playing well for most of the first half and early in the second.
"We did, we did (play well)," UH coach Jim Bolla said. "But then it started with them right at the end of the first half making four 3s. We were in great shape prior to that ... and then that gave (Fresno) momentum going into the second half."
Dita Liepkalne, coming off a knee injury, was inserted into the game for the first time with 8 minutes left, and had three nice assists to Tanya Smith to help get the deficit down to 60-55.
Then Wilson, the fourth-leading scorer in the conference at 15.5 points per game, either scored or assisted on her team's next six baskets to put the game away. Fresno State made it nine victories in its last 10 meetings with Hawaii in sweeping the season series.
The Wahine suffered their second straight loss at home while being outshot 47 percent to 39. Hawaii fell to 1-2 in its four-game homestand, which wraps up against lowly San Jose State tomorrow.
Ross hit a 3-pointer from the corner on a kickout pass from Hayley Munro just before the halftime buzzer to give the Bulldogs a 36-33 lead into the break.
"Penetrating and 3s are their strengths," said Smith, who scored 15 of her 16 points in the second half. "We had them down in the first half and we just gave it up in the second."
Ross led Fresno State with 16 points, while Wilson and LaShaunte Stephens added 15 each. Bailey Amundsen chipped in 14 while hitting four of her team's 11 3-pointers.
The Bulldogs got 31 points from their bench, while Keisha Kanekoa's 10 accounted for all of Hawaii's scoring out of its starting five.
In the first 23 games of the season, Hawaii committed as many or more turnovers as their opponent. That streak finally ended as the Wahine committed two fewer than their foe at 23.
Hawaii capitalized on a rare advantage in turnovers, forcing two more before the half and converting 14 points to Fresno's nine.
Tara Hittle provided a second punch in the post that the Wahine lacked in its January trip to the Save Mart Center, collecting her first career double-double with 10 points and 12 boards, including nine on the offensive end.
WAC standings
|
WAC |
Overall |
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
W |
L |
| Fresno State |
11 |
1 |
.916 |
-- |
16 |
9 |
| Boise State |
11 |
2 |
.846 |
1/2 |
19 |
6 |
| New Mexico State |
9 |
3 |
.750 |
2 |
19 |
6 |
| Nevada |
9 |
4 |
.692 |
2 1/2 |
18 |
8 |
| Louisiana Tech |
6 |
6 |
.500 |
5 |
12 |
13 |
| Utah State |
4 |
8 |
.333 |
7 |
8 |
16 |
| Hawaii |
3 |
8 |
.272 |
7 1/2 |
9 |
15 |
| San Jose State |
1 |
11 |
.083 |
10 |
2 |
23 |
| Idaho |
1 |
12 |
.076 |
10 1/2 |
2 |
23 |
|
Yesterday
Boise State 74, Idaho 40
Utah State 56, Nevada 48
New Mexico State 81, San Jose State 65
Fresno St. 75, Hawaii 62
