Feb. 7, 2008

Box Score

FULLERTON, CA - Visiting UC Santa Barbara used a 21-2 run over a seven-minute span late in the first half to erase a nine-point deficit and the Gauchos held off a late rally by host Cal State Fullerton to defeat the Titans, 72-63, on Thursday night in a Big West Conference women's basketball match-up at Titan Gym.

The loss snapped Fullerton's five-game winning streak as the Titans fell to 7-14 overall and 5-4 in Big West play. UCSB, which clinched its 10th consecutive victory, improved to 14-6 overall and remained perfect in league play at 9-0.

Chow hit five three pointers to account for her 15 points and added four assists. Freshman Ashley Richie and junior Toni Thomas poured in 13 points apiece while Jasmine Scott added 11 points in the loss.

Fullerton opened the game on a 13-4 run over the first five minutes and held its largest lead of the half at nine points on two occasions in the first 10 minutes. However a 9-0 spurt by the Gauchos, capped by an inside basket by Ashlee Brown, tied the game at 21-21 with just over eight minutes to go.

After trading baskets, UCSB took advantage of five straight turnovers by the Fullerton offense to key a 10-0 run and take a 33-23 lead with just over three minutes to go. The Gauchos would go scoreless for the remainder of the half while the Titans converted a pair of free throws and got a jumper by Britt Peters in transition before the end of the half to trail by only six at 33-27 at the break.

The Gauchos didn't let up after halftime, jumping out to a 14-point lead after exploding out of the gates with a 12-4 run. UC Santa Barbara led by as many as 17 points in the game before the Titans began to chip away.

A 14-4 run by Fullerton over a four-minute span brought the Titans to within single digits at eight points with 1:26 remaining and the deficit would shrink to just five points on a three-pointer by Scott with 17 seconds to go.

That would be as clase as Fullerton would be able to get as Lauren Pederson and Jordan Franey combined to convert on all four of their free throw attempts to close out the game.

The Titans, who were outrebounded by a 56-24 count, shot just 36 percent from the field to the Gauchos' 40 percent for the game. Fullerton's defense was able to force UCSB into 23 turnovers on the night, turning those into 26 points for the home team.

Sha'Rae Gibbons led all players with 19 points on the night while Kat Suderman collected a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards. Franey (13 points) and Ashlee Brown (10 points) also finished in double figures for the Gauchos.

Cal State Fullerton closes out its four-game home stand on Saturday evening at 5 p.m. as the Titans host Cal Poly as part of their inaugural "I'll Tell 2" event to promote breast cancer awareness, celebrate breast cancer survivors, and encourage those fighting the disease in conjunction with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) "Think Pink Week."