FULLERTON, Calif. – After a wild regulation, Cal State Fullerton had a chance to win the game in overtime as Alex Thomas' shot a potential game-winning three-pointer with seconds remaining, but the shot was just long as the Titans dropped a 69-67 overtime thriller to UC Davis Saturday night at Titan Gym.
For the Titans (6-10, 2-1 Big West) it snaps their three-game winning streak, while the Aggies improve to 8-9 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Thomas scored a career-high 23 points and contributed four steals in the loss as three other Fullerton players had double digit scoring figures. Kathleen Iwuoha added 11 points and five rebounds, while Chante Miles chipped in 11 points and dished out four assists.
Junior forward Sydnee Fipps and sophomore forward Alyson Doherty each contributed 15 points for Davis. Doherty also recorded a game-high eight rebounds and four assists in the win as the Aggies out-rebounded the Titans 44-25. UCD also used its height to its advantage as the Aggies scored 36 points in the paint.
With UC Davis leading by three with 2:31 remaining following a pair of free throws by Fipps, Thomas took off on a personal 7-0 run for the Titans, draining a three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to tie it and, then, sinking a pair of free throws after UC Davis was called for a foul with 0.5 left on the clock for a 59-57 lead.
After three-consecutive timeouts, the Aggies had the ball out of bounds with one last chance when Molly Greubel stepped in front of Natalie Williams, drawing the charge, and sending the sophomore to the line for two. Greubel sank both and the Titans missed on a half-court heave at the buzzer to send it to overtime.
In the extra period, UC Davis started quickly building a five-point lead with 1:32 to play in the contest, but Fullerton would rally back. Miles hit two from the line and Tailer Butler came up huge with a deep three from the right elbow to tie the game once again at 67-67 with 1:15 to go. Out of a timeout, the Aggies got the ball to Fipps, who drove and laid it in for the go-ahead basket with less than 30 seconds to play.
Playing for the last shot, the Titans got the ball into the hands of Thomas, whose game-winning attempt was just off the mark, and Greubel grabbed the rebound as time expired to seal the win.
The Titans came out scoring the first five points of the game, but after a Chante Mile's three-pointer Fullerton with 18:08 still left to play in the first half Fullerton went on a 4:20 scoring drought. However, through the drought the Titans defense kept them in the game and with just over six minutes gone in the game the Titans still led 5-4. Over the next few minutes, Fullerton gained its largest lead of the first half, 9-4, but quickly UCD answered back with an 8-0 scoring run to take a 12-9 lead with 10:53 left in the half.
Fullerton and Davis traded buckets for the remainder of the half and the teams headed into the intermission tied at 24. Miles led the way for the Titans in the first half as she scored 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Junior guard Kelsey Harris led the Aggies with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting. Both teams were even-matched in the opening half as the Aggies shot 37 percent (10-for-27), while the Titans shot 36 percent (9-for-25).
As the second half started the Aggies opened the second half on a 6-0 run, 30-24, due to another long scoring drought (6:45) from the Titans. Fullerton would comeback from the deficit and a 9-2 run fueled by two Samantha Logan three-pointers gave the Titans the lead back, 33-32, with under 12 minutes to play.
After regaining the lead, UC Davis jumped back on top and grabbed a 44-37 lead, but again the Titans wouldn't go away as with 3:23 remaining the Titans would tie the game up at 50. With the game winding down UCD held a three-point lead, but Thomas' knocked down a three-pointer with 9.8 seconds remaining to get the Titans to overtime.
The Titans will look to bounce back next week on the road at Cal Poly on Thursday, January 23 at 7 p.m.
Notes: Tonight's game was the 19th meeting all-time between UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton… the Titans are now 9-10 all-time against the Aggies and 3-7 all-time at Titan Gym versus UC Davis… Fullerton moves to 5-8 in Big West play against the Aggies… this was the first overtime game this season for the Titans and first ever between Davis and Fullerton… this is the Titan's first loss in 2014… Chante Miles has had double digit scoring figures in all, but one game this season… Thomas has set a new career high for points in a game in back-to-back contests… UC Davis has won the past three of four meetings between the two schools.