1990_12 The Daily Collegian December 1990

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Dally Collegian
Thursday, Dec. 6, 1990
Gainey lends leadership to Dogs
Senbr co-captain leads women's basketball teams In points scoredr.assists and experience
By Doug McLeod
COLLEGIAN SPORTS WRITER
Although the Fresno State women's basketball
team Is only four games Into the 1990-91 campaign.
It is already reclevlng the type of play from senior
guard Gerl Gainey that was expected from her before
the season began.
The Bulldogs (3-1). led by Gainey. a three-year
starter. cruised to 22 and 25 point romps,
respectively, last week in FSU's own Taco Bell
Classic.
Gainey, a co-captain oh this year's squad, scored
13 In Friday's tournnament opener for the Bulldogs
against Cal State Northridge as FSU bolted to a
quick lead and was never challenged In a 82-60 win.
and then returned Saturday to score 17 to lead all
scorers in what garnered her Moat Valuable Player
honors in FSU's 74-49 win over Sacramento State.
Tournament honors are nothing new for Gainey,
who last year was named to the all-tournament
team after a 3 5- point, eight-rebound tourney.
Gainey cites the togetherness of the team for the
carry success ofthe Bulldogs.
"WeVe been together from day one." she said, "this
Is an extremely cohesive team and we get along real
well and are genuinely happy for each other [when
one of us does wen]."
Gainey leads the Bulldogs with a 16.3 points per
game average after her 30-point, II-assist, nine-
rebound showing in last weekend's tournament, a
performance that surprised her.
"1 was actually kind of surprised considering
Sheri (Brown) really came out and did a good Job [25
points against CSU- Northridge)." she said,"1 Just
wanted to do what I had to do. I was consistent both
nights, something which I pride myself on." •♦
Furthermore. her flve-of-slx . shooting
performance from beyond the three-point arc set a
tournament record for shooting (83 percent).
Conslstentency is Gainey's middle name, as she
has scored 20. 16. 13. and 17 in FSU's four games
thus far. •
% "Oft ts«^im#*rtaflti>arf of tHe 'oflerjfee this
year." head coach Bob Spencer said several weeks
ago when asked ofthe leadership ofthe team.
Much of the pressure is expected to be put on
Gainey. the most experienced of aw Bulldog starter,
as the 'Dogs hope to improve on last years' 21-12
record, one which pushed them to a third place
finish in the post-season National Women's
Invitational Tournament.
Such a finish is not out of the question for the
Bulldogs, but, they wul have to stay consistent in
what is a very tough Big West conference.
Both Long Beach State and Nevada. Las Vegas are
currently ranked in the AP Top 20. while Fullerton
State and conference newcomer New Mexico SL are
both exhibiting what looks to be strong contenders
• for the conference title when Blgf West play
commences next month. /
FSU wUl return to action next-Thursday night
against Santa Clara, a return matchup against the
team that beat the 'Dogs 80-59 for the champolnshlp
of the Santa Clara Classic tournament two weeks
ago. a game in which Gainey scored 20 points and
pulled down six rebounds.
Darts McBroy/ The Daly Cotogicn
\
Senior guard Gerl Gainey is a three-year starter and leads the Ekildogs in scoring average.
MAC Champion Chippewas
tryingto getsome respect
"By Chris Coeoles
Wetwa*"* D^onanr defines the
■   as   "The • state  or
"'"   the  same In
wiraitng back-to-back
champfonshipB in L979 and 1980.
The Chippewas finished the season
8-2*1, ?4 In the MAC. This season
marked the school's ■ .'. 26th
eonse«Jtrv«rjon-to«4n4«!«»on.
*w*should have tfoneitdtbe'Cai
Bowl) one time in the 60s, It was
at1:;;raungbeca^;'W,w«re'Sd;,cl06e;
so-rosuiy Units." said coach .-Herb
r*ftrtHBedJ:-,■^ittunediatery -following
theseasoo, -""•■
After a near upae^ Kentucky »
trie:8essoti''opener/CW>went,.:7-0-' 1 > •
lulls nest eight game*. On.'October;""'
20.-" »,>l3*iZ' win" over- previous"?,;
imbeatm Toledo vtfwt '. th*
Cto'ppe-esus *be inside ttacfc "to the
Cal Bowi,   Two .weeks rk«'.c She;
Oh, the fear of "The Question"
Max Dwver
Well, fellow Fresnolds. another
season of NBA basketball is
underway. Yessiree. Bob. the up-
offs, the fast breaks, the slams, the
Jams, the nall-bitlng free throws
and the dramatic baskets at the
buzzer are here for the world to
enjoy.
Oh, yippee, hooray, clap hands,
hop about, squeal with glee, slap
the forehead, -tt»nt take no more.
You see. I consider NBA
basketball to be only something
I'm stuck with five days out ofthe
week when there is no NFL
football. The only reaction I get
out of basketball is "Boy, do I miss
baseball." Somehow the prospects
' ofthe Detroit Pistons going for a
three-peat and Michael Jordan
doing triple-reverse flips and
dunking the ball under hia crotch
dont thrill me a whole heD of a
lot
Of course, normally this would
be all fine and dandy. I could go
about my merry way not caring
about what goes on in the NBA and
leaving the rooting to those that
do. That IS. if it were not for one
minor detail.
1 stand approximately 6'8".
Which, of course, means that
nearly everyone I meet must break
the ice by making some remark
about my height. And usually this
ice-breaking takes shape in the
form of what I call The Question:
"DO YOU PLAY BASKETBALL?"
Now. I can u nderstand that
these people do not know me and
art not aware ofrny Intense lack
of athletic prowess. I mean. Ray
SwDWYER.poQe'0
!