3/12 WAC Championship Game vs. Fresno State

[Dawg06]

#2 Fresno State vs. #1 Louisiana Tech

Day: Saturday
Date: March 12, 2011
Time: 3:00 PM CT
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Orleans Arena



Media Info
TV: ESPNU, ESPN3.com
Radio: ESPN 97.7 FM, All-Access
Live Stats: NeuLion
Twitter Updates: Malcolm Butler
In-Game Chat: FlashChat

Team Info
Coaches: Adrian Wiggins, Teresa Weatherspoon
Rosters: Fresno, Tech
Statistics: Fresno, Tech
Schedules: Fresno, Tech
Game Notes: Fresno, Tech
Media Guides: Fresno, Tech

Louisiana Tech Probable Starters
32 Jasmine Bendolph (8.1 points, 4.4 assists)
23 Whitney Jones (10.1 points, 32.0% 3-pointers)
2 Brietta Thomas (5.7 points, 40.3% 3-pointers)
3 Kiara Young (5.6 points, 4.6 rebounds)
33 Adrienne Johnson (22.0 points, 9.6 rebounds)


Fresno State Probable Starters
33 Taylor Thompson 5-5 Guard (7.2 points, 2.6 assists)
4 Jaleesa Ross 5-8 Guard (16.2 points, 4.0 assists, 38.1% 3-pointers)
10 Marnique Arnold 5-9 Guard/Forward (8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds)
25 Rosie Moult 6-1 Guard/Forward (12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 39.0% 3-pointers)
1 Taja Edwards 5-11 Forward (7.6 points, 5.8 rebounds)


Key Reserves
12 Shantale Bramble-Donaldson 6-1 Forward (7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds)
2 Hayley Munro 6-1 Guard/Forward (12.9 points, 5.9 rebounds)


RPI
25. Louisiana Tech (24-6)
51. Fresno State (24-7)

All-Time Series (Tech leads 17-8)
1995-96 Tech 77-59 Neutral site
2001-02 Tech 74-50 in Fresno
2001-02 Tech 70-35 in Ruston
2002-03 Tech 63-53 in Fresno
2002-03 Tech 87-62 in Ruston
2002-03 Tech 89-57 in Tulsa (WAC Finals)
2003-04 Tech 81-59 in Ruston
2003-04 Tech 85-52 in Fresno
2004-05 Tech 80-70 in Fresno
2004-05 Tech 86-76 in Ruston
2004-05 Tech 92-87 (2OT) in Reno (WAC Semifinals)
2005-06 Fresno 68-59 in Fresno
2005-06 Tech 70-61 in Ruston
2006-07 Tech 78-40 in Ruston
2006-07 Fresno 72-57 in Fresno
2007-08 Fresno 75-52 in Fresno
2007-08 Fresno 82-63 in Ruston
2007-08 Fresno 85-58 in Las Cruces (WAC Semifinals)
2008-09 Fresno 78-53 in Ruston
2008-09 Tech 80-62 in Fresno
2009-10 Fresno 71-61 in Fresno
2009-10 Fresno 81-78 (OT) in Ruston
2009-10 Tech 68-66 in Reno (WAC Finals)
2010-11 Tech 94-92 (3OT) in Fresno
2010-11 Tech 90-84 (OT) in Ruston

WAC Basketball Tournament Central
First Round: Wednesday, March 9
Game 1: 5 Idaho 70, 8 Boise State 59 (Box Score, Recap, Photos)
Game 2: 6 New Mexico State 71, 7 Hawai'i 59 (Box Score, Recap, Photos)
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 10
Game 3: 4 Nevada 75, 5 Idaho 61 (Box Score, Recap, Photos)
Game 4: 3 Utah State 72, 6 New Mexico State 67 (Box Score, Recap, Photos)
Semifinals: Friday, March 11
Game 5: 1 Louisiana Tech 66, 4 Nevada 59 (Box Score, Recap, Photos)
Game 6: 2 Fresno State 86, 3 Utah State 76 (Box Score, Recap, Photos)
Finals: Saturday, March 12
Game 7: 1 Louisiana Tech vs. 2 Fresno State (3:00 PM CT)

All-Time Wins
1. Tennessee, 1161
2. Louisiana Tech, 1000
3. Old Dominion, 929
4. James Madison, 904
4. Stephen F. Austin, 904

[dawg80]

Was there any doubt who'd square off for the WAC championship?

Look at the last 4 games....is there any doubt it'll be another nailbiter!

Last year, both teams made the Dance. Will that happen this year, no matter the outcome tomorrow?

[beaux66]

I think Tech is in win or lose. Fresno probably needs to win tomorrow to get in. Sadly I think they deserve one either way, but you know they will stick LSU in before Fresno.

[KSDAWG]

I think they both deserve a bid, but Tech will win today!

[champion110]

One thing that I hope everyone remembers from the first two contests is to not panic. On the first two, we got down by a good amount before surging back. While I hope we don't have to do that this time, don't go into panic mode.

[philgarris]

I am sure that the Spoon has the mindset that this is the first round of the NCAA tournament .
We must have that mindset.
This is a huge game for us and our program.
I believe that we are in but we can't leave it up to someone else to decide.
Fresno and the Lady Techsters have played good teams this year and we both decide to be part of the NCAA tournament.
I have the DVR set and can't wait to see how this game plays out.
Also give a congrats to Grambling men they refused to go away yesterday in the semi finals of the SWAC tournament and play tonight in the finals against Alabama State on ESPNU at 7:30 central time.
Be nice to have two teams from our area going dancing

[champion110]

Fresno, of course, has motivation with this game that will determine their fate for the NCAA. We, however, have some motivation of our own after them disrespecting us on our court at the end of the last game. I think we will be pumped and ready to go. I love that they were down by 17 in their game yesterday. Must have worn them down. At least, they had to play their starters the entire game.

[BayouHawg]

Game Day in Vegas............Up before the sun, can't wait for the tip off.

[cpmsport]

Fresno, of course, has motivation with this game that will determine their fate for the NCAA. We, however, have some motivation of our own after them disrespecting us on our court at the end of the last game. I think we will be pumped and ready to go. I love that they were down by 17 in their game yesterday. Must have worn them down. At least, they had to play their starters the entire game.

Champ: I know I'm a bit behind, but can you catch me up on why TK is not playing?

[champion110]

Champ: I know I'm a bit behind, but can you catch me up on why TK is not playing?

Academic ineligibility

[dawg80]

Fresno, of course, has motivation with this game that will determine their fate for the NCAA. We, however, have some motivation of our own after them disrespecting us on our court at the end of the last game. I think we will be pumped and ready to go. I love that they were down by 17 in their game yesterday. Must have worn them down. At least, they had to play their starters the entire game.

I was hoping they'd play a 10-OT classic!!!

Motivation? Wow! how can anyone not be motivated? I'd knock you thru a brick wall in a "friendly" pick-up game. I hate to lose. Can't tolerate it...ever. I have no personal point of reference for not being motivated to win. Can't relate to that concept.

I expect this to be Donnybrook! A lil Irish lingo there...from we "scum of the Earth." We Irish have been kicked out of every decent country on Earth. But, there is a reason the expression "fighting Irish" is a term of endearment for us. We love it! And...

....this game should be a knock-down, drag-out affair. Let the elbows and the blood fly....tip it off!

[HogDawg]

I hope T-Spoon reminded our girls to bring their track shoes. We need to run, and run, and run, until we run Fresno out of the gym. We need to wear those FSU girls down in the 2nd half. That's essentially what happened in our last meeting.



HD

[Dawg06]

Fresno, of course, has motivation with this game that will determine their fate for the NCAA. We, however, have some motivation of our own after them disrespecting us on our court at the end of the last game. I think we will be pumped and ready to go. I love that they were down by 17 in their game yesterday. Must have worn them down. At least, they had to play their starters the entire game.

This game likely determines our fate for the NCAA. Houston dropped 2 seed lines after their loss, which stole an at-large bid for C-USA. If we drop 2 seed lines, we are OUT of the NCAA Tournament. Currently, we are ranked between 28-30 as far as the at-large teams go. There are only 33 at-large bids. We don't have much, if any, room for error.

[champion110]

I am READY! Let's get it on now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[champion110]

This game likely determines our fate for the NCAA. Houston dropped 2 seed lines after their loss, which stole an at-large bid for C-USA. If we drop 2 seed lines, we are OUT of the NCAA Tournament. Currently, we are ranked between 28-30 as far as the at-large teams go. There are only 33 at-large bids. We don't have much, if any, room for error.

If it is even close, we will get in. I don't want to take chances. I WANT TO WIN, but we will get in, I believe.

We shouldn't think we will, regardless. We need to win and win big!