The Dream Is Still
Alive.
Behind by ten points
several times during the game, the Boise State women’s basketball team would
not give up. Coach Gordy Presnell’s team
fought through adversity to score a 69-63 win over Fresno State tonight at Taco Bell Arena.
It almost didn’t
happen. Every Bronco run would be
answered by a Bulldog run. Then, with 4:16 left to play, Boise State made their move. Nadia Begay canned a three-pointer to pull
within two points at 59-57. After a
missed shot, sophomore point guard Tasha Harris drove down the court and was
fouled. Harris calmly sank both free
throws to tie the score for the first time since early in the game. Fresno State answered the bucket and went
back on top. Three minutes left. Then down 61-60 with two minutes left,
Michelle Hessing hit a layup to put the Broncos on top 62-61. The momentum had changed and once they had
it, the Broncos refused to lose, outscoring Fresno State 7-2 the rest of the way.
Harris led Boise State with 18 points and was all over
the court, following up her 23-point performance against Nevada last Saturday. Began scored 12 points and had five
rebounds. Jenna Galassi hit nine points
and led the Bronco effort on the boards with six. Jackie Lee added eight points and five
rebounds, while Rebecca Kepilino set a career high with four blocked shots.
Boise State was all too glad to have the
services of Jessica and Jackie Thompson.
Jessica had been out of action the past two weeks with illness while
Jackie had missed nine games with an injury.
With their lineup complete once again, the Broncos are ready to roll.
Tierre Wilson led Fresno State with 14 points while Paige
Diggs contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.
Brittani Green led the Bulldogs with eight boards.
The Lady Broncos snapped
a season-long three game losing streak and reached the 20-win plateau for the
fourth time in their history. Boise State last won 20 games when the
1993-94 team was 23-6. The Broncos are
now 20-8 this season and 11-4 in the Western Athletic Conference while Fresno State is 16-12 and 8-7.
Boise State concludes the regular season
Saturday night in Taco Bell Arena against Hawai’i, the hottest team in the
league. After all that has happened to
them this season, a Bronco win will give them a WAC Championship. Be on hand as Boise State celebrates Senior Night,
saluting seniors Michelle Hessing, Jackie Thompson and Nadia Begay. Tipoff is 7 p.m.
Fresno State vs. Boise State
FRESNO STATE (16-12, WAC 8-7)
Wilson, Tierre 6-10 0-0 14; Diggs, Paige 5-8 0-4 11; Perera, Chantella 4-13
0-0 9; Henry, Erica 3-4 3-6 9; Thigpin, Jenny 4-5 1-2 9; Roberson, Andrea
3-7 0-1 7; Green, Brittani 2-6 0-0 4; Walker-Roche, Kendra 0-2 0-0 0; Jones,
Brittny 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-55 4-13 63.
BOISE STATE (20-8, WAC 11-4)
Harris, Tasha 7-15, 2-4 (18); Begay, Nadia 4-9, 1-2 (12); Jenna Galassi 2-5, 5-6 (9); Lee, Jackie 1-3, 6-6 (8); Hessing, Michelle (4-7, 0-0 (8); Thompson, Jackie 2-3, 0-0 (4); Kepilino, Rebecca 1-7, 2-4 (4); Stewart, Amanda 2-3, 0-0 (4); Thompson, Jessica 1-7, 0-2 (2); Walker, Ja”lara 0-2, 0-0 (0); Reyes, Bridgette 0-0, 0-0 (0).
Totals 24-61 16-24 69.
Fresno State.................. 39 24 - 63
Boise State................... 29 40 - 69
3-point goals--Fresno State 5-17 (Wilson, Tierre 2-3; Diggs, Paige 1-2;
Roberson, Andrea 1-3; Perera, Chantella 1-5; Walker-Roche, Kendra 0-2;
Green, Brittani 0-2), Boise State 5-14 Begay 3-7, Harris 2-3, Lee 0-1, Jessica Thompson 0-2, Galassi 0-1. Fouled
out--Fresno State-Wilson, Tierre; Thigpin, Jenny, Boise State-None.
Rebounds--Fresno State 36 (Green, Brittani 8), Boise State 36 (Galassi,
Jenna 6). Assists--Fresno State 13 (Perera, Chantella 4), Boise State 11 (Harris—3). Total fouls--Fresno State 21, Boise State 16. Technical
fouls--Fresno State-Wilson, Tierre, Boise State-None. A-930