Sloppy play favors 'Dogs in win over Utah
Joseph Hollak / The Collegian
Fresno State’s Paige Diggs is a standout defender at the point guard position for the Bulldogs. Her efforts against Utah on the road contributed to the Bulldogs’ victory.
Below: For the first time in her career, Fresno State’s Tierre Wilson is a full-time starter for the Bulldogs. Her 13 points helped the Bulldogs win.
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Staff Reports
The Collegian
The verdict on the Fresno State women’s basketball team’s first game of the season and the road during its tough non-conference slate is in — and it’s good news.
Led by a game-high 23 points from senior Chantella Perera, the Bulldogs (1-0) defeated the Utah Utes 61-55, knocking off the defending Mountain West Conference champions from a year ago.
Perera came up especially huge for the Bulldogs from the free-throw line, where she knocked down 11 of 12.
Those free-throws by Perera would prove to be important in the final outcome in the came, especially with the struggles presented from an aggressive Utes defense that held the Bulldogs to only 36.5-percent shooting for the night.
“I thought that Utah really defended us well,” said Fresno State head coach Adrian Wiggins. “I feel that the turning point was when we started posting up our guards in the second half, which brought us out to a little lead. Then, at the end of the game, we got stops, rebounds and free throws, which was the key.”
Fresno State received a big boost off the bench from Andrea Roberson, who sparked the Bulldogs with 16 points off the bench on 6 of 8 shooting, including a key basket in the final two minutes of the game to help guide the Bulldogs to victory.
The two teams combined for 21 turnovers in the game, including 23 by the Utes, which eventually played into the Bulldogs’ hands. Fresno State cashed in on 27 points worth of Utah turnovers, which helped the Bulldogs overcome their poor shooting percentage.
Fresno State will now return home to battle the No. 24 BYU Cougars on Friday, who are coming off a victory over 4th-ranked Stanford.
Fresno State is already making an impact on next year’s recruiting front with the signing of three of California’s top high school basketball players in Taja Edwards, Jaleesa Ross and Marnique Arnold.
Edwards, a 5-foot-11 forward, comes out of Long Beach Poly, the defending high school state champions, and a perennial powerhouse in girl’s basketball. She is a multi-year starter for Long Beach Poly, and is touted by Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins as being a very physical athlete who can score off the dribble from any position.
Ross and Arnold will remain as teammates, as each comes out of Pinole Valley High School.
Arnold brings along the reputation as being one of the top defenders in the state while Ross has the potential to make a big impact on next year’s Fresno State team.
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