Boxscore

FRESNO, Calif. ? Fresno State guards Mirenda Swearingen and Tierre Wilson were both academically ineligible for the first eight games of the season.

However, on Saturday, the dynamic duo ? who played in only their seventh game of the season ? put on a clinic leading the Bulldogs to a 67-58 win over the Lady Techsters (11-4, 3-1) before 3,115 fans at the Save Mart Center.

Swearingen and Wilson each scored 17 points, including all seven in a crucial 7-0 run that brought Fresno State back from a 48-40 deficit with just over eight minutes to play, as Fresno State (11-4, 3-0) registered its first ever win over Tech.

?This game is disappointing,? said Tech head coach Chris Long. ?It?s disappointing because despite all the off the court issues I felt like we did enough good things to give ourselves a chance to win.?

Tech, which didn?t arrive in Fresno until 3 a.m. game day due to travel issues out of Honolulu, held Fresno State?s leading scorer Amy Parish to nine points and three rebounds while also outrebounding the Western Athletic Conference?s top rebounding team 47-42.

However, it was ultimately turnovers down the stretch that kept Louisiana Tech from remaining undefeated in conference play.

?I give Fresno State a lot of credit,? Long said. ?They came out with a lot of energy and they made plays when it counted. We knew they were a good basketball team and they showed it today.?

After trailing 34-30 at the half, Tech built a 48-40 lead with under 10 minutes remaining in the game before Swearingen and Wilson took over. Swearingen?s conventional three-point play made it 48-43 before Swearingen forced a turnover and fed Wilson just seconds later for a layup and a 48-45 score.

On Tech?s next possession Swearingen stole the ball at midcourt and took it the distance for another layup and all of a sudden, Fresno State and the Save Mart Center crowd came to life.

?No doubt that was the turning point of the game,? Long said. ?Turnovers cost us down the stretch.?

Tech remained within striking distance down the stretch trailing by as few as five with under two minutes remaining before Fresno State hit free throws to seal the win.

Tasha Williams and Shan Moore led Tech with 12 points each while Eboni Mangum added nine points and a career-high eight rebounds.

Tech returns to action Jan. 21 at New Mexico State.