Change is good for Fresno State

RENO - Sometimes change is good for a basketball team. Fresno State's women's basketball team can attest to that.

Since head coach Stacy Johnson-Klein was suspended and then dismissed for a plethora of violations, the Bulldogs have compiled a 7-2 record, including Wednesday's easy 71-53 victory over SMU in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament at Lawlor Events Center.

The Bulldogs (20-9) will play Louisiana Tech (19-8) Friday at noon in the semifinals. SMU (19-10) hopes it will gain a berth in the Women's NIT. After starting the season 16-4, the Mustangs won just three of their last nine games.

"I'm proud of this team," interim coach Adrian Wiggins said. "We got great (shot) selections and gave SMU a hard time inside. I thought the girls did a great job of putting in the effort that was needed to get it done."

Fresno State built a 10-point halftime lead, 30-20, as Mirenda Swearengin scored eight points and Amy Parrish (13 points) added seven.

It was the Bulldogs' pressure and trapping defense that caused the Mustangs problems in the first 20 minutes. SMU had 12 of its 19 turnovers in the first half.

'We did not handle Fresno State's pressure well tonight," SMU coach Rhonda Rompola. "We just didn't have any ball handlers today. We were not aggressive, and allowed ourselves to get trapped. I do not know what team I was coaching today. We didn't even come close to playing like our team is capable of."

The Bulldogs put the game away with a 21-4 surge in a seven-minute span of the second half, pulling away to a 68-44 lead with 3:10 remaining. Chantella Perera (14 points) knocked down two treys and two free throws and Swearengin (19 points) added two baskets and two free throws to lead the charge.

"We will enjoy the win tonight, but the reality is that this team is capable of winning more games," Wiggins said. "We are 0-10 against Louisiana tech, but we will beat them one day. I don't know if it will be Friday, but it will happen."