Hawai'i Homegrown Report
'Aiea grad Lane off to fast start at Fresno State
| • | 2001 all-stars settling in at colleges |
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Aritta Lane has a simple explanation for why she leads the Western Athletic Conference in rebounding only a month into her freshman basketball season at Fresno State:
Advertiser library photo
"What I did back home, I'm doing here," says Lane, whose rebounding and scoring helped 'Aiea High upset Kalaheo in May for the Hawai'i high school girls championship.
Freshman Aritta Lane, a graduate of 'Aiea High School, is averaging 10.3 points and 10.6 rebounds for Fresno State.
Lane is the only player in the WAC who is averaging a double-double — 10.6 rebounds and 10.3 points in nine games.
"I want people to know that when I'm out there, I give 100 percent, every time," Lane said. "I'm just that type of player."
Lane made a statement in her very first collegiate game. Andy Boogaard, who covers the Bulldogs for the Fresno Bee, said, "Delaware State will never be confused with Tennessee, but when Aritta came off the bench to provide 19 points and 15 rebounds against the Hornets in her college debut a month ago, it was one of those 'wow' moments unseen at Fresno State in recent years.
"That she blended into the game immediately spoke volumes for her court savvy. This, to say nothing of her aggressive, left-handed ability. She's a rebounding machine, the anchor of a promising freshman class that should turn around the Bulldogs' fortunes."
Lane grabbed 18 rebounds, two short of the school record, in a 69-67 loss to San Francisco last Wednesday and has three double-doubles.
She earned a starting position at power forward by the fifth game. Playing mainly low post, Lane ranks third in the WAC in field-goal shooting percentage at .564 (she's made 31 of 55 attempts).
At 6-feet even, Lane is the sixth tallest player on her own team and battles players three or four inches taller for rebounds in nearly every game.
"Her hustle and quickness make up for height," Fresno State coach Britt King said. "She just out-quicks opponents to the ball."
Fresno media and fans have shown so much interest in Lane that Jake Bragonier, assistant sports information director, has inserted a special section on her in each week's news release called "Driving the Lane."
"As she continues to grow comfortable with the offense, I think Aritta is going to become an even greater scoring force," Bragonier said.
King first saw Lane play at the Oregon Trail tournament near Portland in the summer of 2000. "I was impressed with her work ethic, her desire to do the little things and hustle on defense."
On her second phone call to Lane in Hawai'i, King offered a scholarship.
"I told them I wanted to be a leader and I wanted to be challenged," Lane said.
So far, everybody's expectations are being met.
