Feb. 24, 2010

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RUSTON - Louisiana Tech junior Tarkeisha Wysinger scored a career-high 25 points but it wasn't enough as Fresno State defeated the Lady Techsters 81-78 in overtime before 1,893 fans Wednesday night at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Tech led 68-66 on a pair of Adrienne Johnson free throws with 22 seconds to play before Fresno State guard Jaleesa Ross drove down the right side of the lane and collided with Johnson with only 4 seconds to play. Johnson was whistled for a blocking foul, her fifth of the game, and Ross calmly sank two free throws to send the contest into overtime.

Early on in the extra period sophomore guard Jasmine Bendolph gave the Lady Techsters a 75-69 lead scoring seven straight points but once again Fresno State wouldn't go away quietly. After a missed three-pointer on Tech's next possession, Bulldog guard Emma Andrews drove down the lane and scored while being fouled.

She converted the conventional three-point play with 2:28 to play, igniting a game-closing 12-3 run that sent the Bulldogs to 14-0 in Western Athletic Conference play.

"I hurt more for my kids right now than anything," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "They played their hearts out there tonight. It's tough to lose a game like this."

Tech led 77-76 with under a minute to play in the extra period when Wysinger appeared to steal the ball at the top of the key from Andrews. However, as she turned to start the fast break up the court, a whistle was blown sending Andrews to the free throw line where she hit two more shots as Fresno State took a 78-77 advantage.

The Bulldogs (23-5, 14-0) made only 1-of-5 field goals in overtime but hit 11-of-14 free throws including 11 straight at one point while the Lady Techsters hit only 4-of-8 from the charity stripe in the extra session.

"You saw some fatigue affect us in overtime," Weatherspoon said. "There were a couple of times we didn't get back defensively like we should have and it cost us."

LA Tech (18-7, 9-4 WAC) led 35-30 at the half despite shooting only 12-of-32 from the field in the first half thanks in large part to the effort of Wysinger off the bench. Wysinger, who surpassed her previous career-high of 24 points set as a freshman against Sam Houston State, hit 7-of-11 field goals, including a pair of three-pointers, while hitting 9-of-15 free throws.

She scored 12 of her points in the opening 20 minutes to lead all scorers.

"I told Daron (Park) today that I thought TK would have a good game tonight," Weatherspoon said. "I felt it. She has been putting in some extra work and it paid off tonight. She is a good shooter and tonight she stepped up and shot with confidence."

In a game that saw 10 ties and 14 lead changes, Fresno State found itself leading by two late in regulation before Whitney Jones driving layup with 49 seconds to play tied the game at 66-66. After a missed layup by Fresno State forward Joh-Teena Filipe, Johnson pulled down the rebound and was fouled sending her to the free throw line to give Tech the lead with only 22 seconds to play.

In addition to Wysinger's big night, Shanavia Dowdell recorded her 18th double double of the year with 17 points and a career-high tying 20 rebounds while Bendolph added 15 points.

LaShay Fears led Fresno State with 22 points while Andrews added 16 and Munro and Filipe each scored 11.

Tech returns to action Saturday at 3 p.m. when it hosts Nevada in the final regular season home game of the year.