Fullerton, Calif. – Air Force junior forward Shawna Neff hit a short
jumper with 40 seconds remaining in the game for the go-ahead basket and
the Falcons’ defense turned away a last-second attempt by Cal State
Fullerton to tie the score en route to a, 74-69, victory in a non-conference
women’s basketball match-up on Wednesday night at Titan Gym.
Cal State Fullerton falls to 1-4 overall on the season, having lost its
last four consecutive games after winning its season opener on Nov. 24.
Air Force, which has now won the last three consecutive meetings in the
series to take a 3-1 all-time series lead, improves to 3-2 overall.
The Titans trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half, but an
18-4 run over a span of 4:58, punctuated by a driving lay-up by sophomore
Meghann Keathley (her only points of the game) tied the contest at 65-65
with 2:17 left in the game.
The two teams would then trade baskets over the next 1:13 before Neff
hit a short jumper to give Air Force a two-point, 71-69 advantage. The
Falcons had their chances to ice the game, but missed 3-of-4 from the
free throw line over the next 21 seconds to hold only a three-point lead
at 72-69 with 19 seconds remaining.
On Fullerton’s next possession, the Titans drove the length of the
court to attempt to tie the game, but threw the ball away with six seconds
remaining on the clock. Neff then hit a pair of free throws after a quick
foul by Cal State Fullerton to clinch the game.
The Titans were hurt by 23 turnovers that led to 24 Falcon points and
shot just 63 percent (15-of-23) from the free throw line in the second
half after going a perfect 10-for-10 from the stripe in the first period.
Cal State Fullerton outrebounded Air Force, 36-28, but were outshot from
the floor, .482 to .404.
Cal State Fullerton had three players in double figures led by junior
Tamara Quinn, who notched a season-high 21 points to go with a pair of
boards and three steals. Junior Rochelle Ortega notched a double-double
with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while senior Heather Hansen
had 12 points, five rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
Air Force got 23 points from Neff to go with three steals while junior
Latoya Howell and an all-around solid night, adding 15 points and 10 assists
to go with seven rebounds and four steals. Senior Wendy Stillman was also
in double-figures for the Falcons, adding 10 points and three rebounds
off the bench.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 7) at 4:15 p.m.
as the Titans travel to Cedar City, Utah, to take on Southern Utah. Fullerton
then travels to Lincoln, Neb., to take on Nebraska on Wednesday (Dec.
11) at 5 p.m.
