Cal State Fullerton narrowly missed a school single-game record with 11
three-pointers and senior Tamara Quinn led all scorers with 24 points
as the host Titans defeated UC Riverside, 68-56, in a Big West Conference
women's basketball match-up on Saturday night at Titan Gym.
Fullerton improved to 2-10 overall, 2-1 in league play, snapping a six-game
losing streak to the Highlanders dating back to the 2000 season. UCR fell
to 2-10 overall, 1-2 in the Big West.
Half of the Titans' made baskets on the night came from beyond the arc
as they hit 11-of-27 (.407) from three-point range and 22-of-57 (.386)
overall. The school single-game record for three-pointers made is 13 set
against Nevada on Feb. 26, 1994.
Quinn missed equalling her career high in scoring by a single point and
added four rebounds and a career-high six assists. She now needs only
73 points to become the 14th player in school history to reach 1,000 career
points. Quinn was also 8-for-8 from the free throw line, moving into 10th
place on the school's career list for free throws made in the process.
Two other Titans were also in double figures as freshman Charlee Underwood
tallied her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds,
while senior Rochelle Ortega added 10 points and six boards in the win.
Fullerton jumped out to a quick 12-2 advantage to open the game as five
of its first nine made baskets were three-pointers, setting the tone for
the entire night. However, the Highlanders responded with a 12-0 run,
capped by a three-pointer by Jennifer Valdez that gave UCR its first lead
at 14-12 with just under 12 minutes to play.
The Highlanders led by as many as three points in the first half with
3:16 to play before the Titans rattled of a 6-0 run to close out the period
and taking a 29-26 lead into the lockerroom at the break.
In the second half, Fullerton scored the first five points to increase
its lead to eight, but the Highlanders battled back to tie the game at
34-34 thanks to eight unanswered points with just under four minutes gone
in the half.
The two teams traded baskets, with the Titans holding no more than a seven-point
advantage on two occassions and UCR getting no closer than five points
three times. Leading by five with 8:23 to go, Fullerton let loose for
an 11-2 run, upping its lead to 14 points with 3:37 to go and the Titans
never looked back.
UC Riverside, playing without leading scorer Cassandra Reeves, who is
out due to injury, had three players in double figures led by Crystal
Harris' 14 points. LaKeima Stephens had 11 points and nine rebounds, while
Kristin Peters came off the bench to tally 13 points in the loss.
Despite the loss, the Highlanders outshot the Titans, hitting on 20-of-49
(.408) from the field for the game, and edged Fullerton on the boards,
34-33.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 15) as the Titans
continue their three-game homestand with a contest against arch-rival
Long Beach State at 7 p.m.
