Jan. 16, 2009

Box Score

RUSTON -- Fresno State used a 30-6 run early in the second half to blow open a close game as the Bulldogs defeated Louisiana Tech 78-53 Friday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.

After Lady Techster sophomore Adrienne Johnson hit a jumper to open the second half and cut the FSU lead to 41-34, the Bulldogs (12-5, 3-1 WAC) hit five three-pointers in a 10-minute span to put the game away.

"Fresno State is a tough match-up defensively," said Tech head coach Chris Long. "They all shoot it so well and they are athletic so if you go out on them to stop the three-pointers, they can go by you.

"Our game plan was to take the three-pointer away, and we did a descent job of that in the first half. However, they were driving by us and getting too many easy shots. When we went back to playing man with help, they kicked to those shooters and they didn't miss."

For the contest, Fresno State shot 50 percent (30-60) from the field and 48 percent (10-21) from the three-point line as the Bulldogs outscored Tech 37-21 in the final 20 minutes of play.

Tech started the game strong, hitting 6 of its first 10 shots. However, the Bulldogs wouldn't allow the Lady Techsters to pull away as Fresno State hit 6 of its first nine shots and 12 of its first 19 and eventually built a 31-20 lead on an Ashley Walker three-pointer at the 6:54 mark.

The Lady Techsters (8-9, 1-2) scored six unanswered points to cut the deficit to 31-26 on a Johnson jumper with 5:53 to play but that was as close as Tech would get.

Fresno State entered the halftime locker room leading 41-32.

The Bulldogs then opened the second half strong, hitting 12-of-18 field goals during the decisive 30-6 run.

"We have to find a way to guard them," Long said. "If you want to win the WAC title, you have to find a way to defend Fresno State. This definitely wasn't our best effort on either end of the floor, and there are a lot of areas we can get better."

Johnson led Tech with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Shanavia Dowdell scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in only 19 minutes of action.

Hayley Munro and Marnique Arnold led Fresno State with 12 points each while Walker added 11 points.

Tech shot only 31 percent (20-64) for the game.

Both teams pulled down 41 rebounds with Tech grabbing 17 offensive boards.

Tech returns to action Sunday with a 2 p.m. tipoff against San Jose State.