Joseph Edgecomb / The Collegian
WOMEN̢۪S BASKETBALL | REDWAVE Podcast game of the week
Friday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., Save Mart Center
Fresno State Bulldogs (13-6, 4-2 WAC) vs. San Jose State Spartans (2-17, 1-5 WAC)
Breakdown: Bulldogs
Coming off a convincing 71-45 victory last Friday at Hawaii, the Fresno State women̢۪s basketball team has plenty of momentum to carry it past San Jose State tonight.
The Bulldogs are currently in second place in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), but head coach Adrian Wiggins̢۪ team has the best overall record at 13-6.
Last season, the Bulldogs won the WAC and are on track to finish atop their conference again. If they can come out and play their game tonight, the Bulldogs should count on another conference victory and will be one game closer to catching up with first place Nevada.
Sophomore Jaleesa Ross is coming off a 15-point performance and should again lead her team tonight. Ross and the Bulldogs average 10 made 3-point field goals a game.
Tonight, if the long ball is falling and Ross is on, the Bulldogs win big.
Breakdown: Spartans
The Spartans haven̢۪t been the WAC̢۪s hottest team in 2009.
San Jose State has yet to win a game on the road this season and doesn̢۪t have much hope in the near future. They are 0-8 away from the Event Center and a lowly 2-17 overall.
The Spartans are lead by guard Chasity Shavers and guard Natalie White. The guard combination are the only two players on the team to average double-digit points.
On average, the Spartans are outscored by almost 20 points a night and shoot only 35 percent from the field.
If the Bulldogs force the Spartans to shoot from the outside with a zone defense, San Jose State̢۪s decrease quickly. The Spartans only shoot 29 percent from beyond the arc.
Expect the Bulldogs to pressure early and often, as San Jose State turns the ball over 23 times a game. To win, something has to change for the Spartans.
Keys to Victory
The Bulldogs win if …
…the real Bulldogs take the floor at the Save Mart Center tonight. San Jose State may be a rival, but this game should be done at half.
The Spartans win if …
…they can take away the fast break and slow the Bulldogs down. If Fresno State doesn’t hit a three in tonight’s contest, the Spartans will have a chance to win a road game.
By Logan Hopkins and George Stepanoff Jr. / The Collegian