Bulldogs, Bears meet Saturday

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The long wait's almost over for Frseno State. The Bulldogs will make their first appearance in the NCAA women's basketball tournament Saturday, when they take on No. 12-ranked Baylor in a first-round game at the Pit. Fresno State will face a established NCAA power in the 11 a.m, game, which will be telecast by ESPN 2.

Baylor (24-6) is the the No. 3 seed in the Spokane Regional. The Bears have five players who average in double figures, including senior guard Angela Tisdale (16.2 points) and 6-foot-1 forward Rachel Allison (12.8 points, 8-6 rebounds).

The 2005 national champions have been to the NCAA tournament five straight years and seven times in the last eight years.

Fresno State (20-10) is the No. 14 seed after earning an automatic bid -- the school's first NCAA berth in the school's 43-year history -- by defeating New Mexico State in the championship game of the WAC tournament.

The Baylor-Fresno State winner will play Monday against the winner of first-round matchup between No. 6 Pittsburgh and No. 11 Wyoming

Fresno State is led in scoring by senior point guard Tierre Wilson, who averages 15.4 points and 3.3 assists a game.

The Bulldogs will likely live or die by the 3-point shot.

They have a trio of perimeter threats, including freshman guard Jaleesa Ross (88 treys), junior guard Bailey Amundsen and Wilson (49).

Ross is second in scoring at 12.8 points per game and 6-1 freshman Hayley Munro averages 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds. Six-2 senior center Eric Henry averages 7.9 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds.\

(March 21, 2008)