FRESNO, Calif. ? Louisiana Tech opens defense of its six straight Western Athletic Conference regular season titles Thursday when the Lady Techsters travel to face Fresno State at the Save Mart Center at 9 p.m. (CST).
The game can be heard on KXKZ 107.5 FM with the pre-game show starting at 8:30 p.m.
Despite the two teams entering the game with sub-.500 marks, both squads have been hot as of late. Tech (6-7) has won two straight games by a combined 80 points and will look to win its 17th conference opener in a row, the nation?s longest current streak.
Fresno State (5-8) has won three straight and five of its last seven and was the lone WAC team to defeat the Lady Techsters on the road last season. The Bulldogs have won two straight over Tech in California.
?I think Fresno is similar to us in that they are young and very athletic,? said Tech head coach Chris Long. ?They are every bit as athletic as we are. They struggled early in the year. but they are definitely coming into their own. We are definitely going to have to play well. We need to be able to defend without fouling because they like to spread you out and attack the basket off the dribble.?
Tech?s inside tandem of Jo Sneed (12.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 50% FG) and
Shanavia Dowdell (12.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 50% FG) continue to lead the Lady Techsters although Long and Co. have seen the emergence on the perimeter of freshman guard
Tarkeisha Wysinger.
Since being inserted into the starting lineup four games ago, Wysinger is averaging 12.3 points and shooting 56 percent from the field. She has scored in double figures in three straight games, including a career-high 24 points in a win over Sam Houston State.
?She is doing a very good job of coming off screens and pulling up and hitting her jump shot,? Long said. ?That?s what this team has to have. She has gotten better and better, and is starting to shoot the three with some confidence. She has brought another dimension to our team.?
Fresno State is led by arguably the WAC?s top perimeter play in senior guard Tierre Wilson, who is averaging 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.2 steals. Long said Wilson is one of the toughest match-ups his team will face all year.
?I think she is one of most talented players in the country,? Long said. ?She could go in the first round of WNBA draft this next year. She is a great one-on-one player that can get her shot off whenever she wants to. It?s important for us to force her into tough shots.?
Fresno State started the season 0-6 although the played some tough competition falling to Cal, BYU, Oklahoma State, TCU and Utah during that stretch.
Tech leads the all-time series against the Bulldogs 13-2, but lost last year?s meeting in Fresno 72-57.
What: Louisiana Tech (6-7, 0-0 WAC) at Fresno State (5-8, 0-0 WAC)
Where: Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.
When: Thursday at 9 p.m. CST
Radio: KXKZ 107.5 FM
Internet Audio: www.z1075fm.com
