Led by Jaleesa Ross’ school-record 295 three-point shots, the ‘Dogs rely on attempts from beyond the arc

For the women’s basketball team, three-pointers are vital to the team’s offensive scheme.

Two years ago, the Bulldogs led the entire country from beyond the arc with 309 three-point baskets made, just 17 shy of the all-time NCAA single-season record.

This facet of their offense has helped them be consistent since most of the players on the team have the ability to shoot the three.

Head coach Adrian Wiggins has had a hand in the amount of players on the team that can shoot the three.

“We like a little balance,” Wiggins said. “So we have a lot of players that can shoot threes. We definitely have some other skills. Basketball requires so many different things: we need to be able to be physical, rebound and defend so we [recruit] players that can help balance us out as a team. Definitely though shooting is a big part of it.”

Since becoming the head coach in 2005, Wiggins has recruited players that have the ability to shoot the three, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to work on this area.

“Team wise we operate at a game speed.” Wiggins said. “We try to time and record the drill and that gives them something to shoot for. We can create an environment where they are actually going at game speed. They’re timing themselves and recoding their [three-pointer] and we think that’s an effective way to get better.”

This practice time devoted to three-point shooting has shown the importance it is for the team.

“Yeah, its a big shot for us,” Wiggins said. “It’s a large part of our offense. We put a lot of value in taking great shots. If we have the skill to shoot a three-point shot, it’s a big boost for us in our offense, also momentum-wise against our opponent.”

A key cog for the success of the three-point shooting is from Jaleesa Ross, who is Fresno State’s leader in three-point field goals made in a career.

Ross emphasized the importance of three-point shooting to the team.

“Its just part of what we do.” Ross said. “People that are recruited to come and play here can and will shoot the three, its just kind of who we’ve become. It’s important but we also like to get lay-ups, free throws and things like that.”

Coach Wiggins hasn’t put any limitations on his team during their time on the hardwood. Wiggins allows the team to roam free with their shots.

“We enjoy shooting everything,” Ross said. “Coach Wiggins says just let it fly. He doesn’t care how many three-pointers we shoot, everybody’s got the green light.”

The senior guard also described the importance the shot has on the offense.

“Everyday, everybody comes in and shoots on their own.” Ross said. “It’s incorporated a lot in practice. It’s really a big part of our offense whenever we are doing practice there are a lot of three pointers shot.”

Senior forward Hayley Munro also put the emphasis on the three-point shot.

“We at least do a few drills in regards to three-point shooting everyday.” Munro said. “We are always shooting them, no one’s told not to shoot them”” even the [center] can go out there and take one, so it’s certainly encouraged to take them.”

Even though there is a lot of versatility on the team, there is still an emphasis on practice.

“It’s just the fact that he’s [coach Wiggins] recruited all of us that can shoot so we practice everyday,” Munro said. “We have one drill that’s called Bulldog Shooting and we want to try to get up at least 50 threes as a group with three people in the team, and we do it everyday and everyone shoots.”

The extra work in practice has shown on the court, with Munro nailing three three-pointers and finishing with 17 points against Santa Clara on Friday. Ross contributed with 10 points, six assists and four steals. As a team they finished with six three-pointers.

With all the success of the past years in their minds, they still know they haven’t reached their potential.

“We are looking to do as well as we have in the last few years but we want to take it further, so our first step is to win the WAC,” Munro said. “You can’t go any further before winning that so we want to do that and then go further into the NCAA tournament and hopefully make the Sweet 16.”