Home is where the games are

By Chhun Sun
The Collegian

It might be the bright lights. It might be the shiny floor. It might be the atmosphere. It might be the crowd that doesn’t let a score or a bad call go without some attention.

Or it might be all the factors above that allow the Fresno State women’s basketball team much success at the Save Mart Center.

And the Bulldogs didn’t disappoint their fans on Sunday.

In front of an announced crowd of 2,446, the Bulldogs came away with a 77-57 runaway victory over UNLV in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament — advancing them to play at Kansas State on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs are now at 24-7.

Some of the players and interim head coach Adrian Wiggins know all too well that the crowd was a big part of the win.

“It was a great atmosphere,” Wiggins said. “We respond really well to them, as long as they’re cheering. I think we have a great relationship with them.”

And the crowd was at its loudest all season, even though it wasn’t the largest crowd in terms of attendance.

After forward Amy Parrish finished a fast break with a layup at 15:31 in the second half, the crowd got on its feet and started chanting, “Hire Wiggins.” The chants continued sporadically until the final buzzer.

At home, the Bulldogs have posted a 21-1 record under Wiggins since he took over the position on Feb. 5, 2005 after then-coach Stacey Johnson-Klein was fired. Their only loss came from No. 10 Arizona State on Dec. 15, 2005.

WNIT director Jeff Jamison can see why the Bulldogs are winning at home.

“Fresno didn’t let up,” said Jamison, whose visit on Sunday to the Save Mart Center was his first time. “For the size of the crowd and for the size of the building, it was up there to other buildings. It’s fun to be in that kind of atmosphere.”

He said the decision on locations of the WNIT games depend on the crowd size and atmosphere of the arena — not based on team record.

“They could come back to host the finals. You don’t wanna go somewhere where you only draw a 100 people,” he said.

Forward Chantella Perera likes that thought.

“We love playing for our fans,” forward Chantella Perera said. “Obviously, the Save Mart Center is a very nice place to play. We’d love to come back here.”

Even UNLV coach Regina Miller can see it, too.

“Fresno State plays with a lot of confidence at home this year,” she said. “The fans did a nice job today as well.”

At the same time, the Bulldogs can’t savor the home win for too long.

“The reality is that we have to a play different game at Kansas,” he said. “We’re a good team on the road, but we’re a great team at home. And what we’re trying to do to be a great team on the road.”

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