Weekly Release (PDF)
TIP-OFF
Fullerton begins the 2014-2015 campaign at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at Titan Gym against head coach Daron Park's alma mater, Montana State, for the first of 13 home games this season. The Titans then travel to San Diego on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. to take on the Toreros for the first road test of the season at Jenny Craig Pavillion.
WATCH IT LIVE
There will be a live video feed available for Cal State Fullerton's games vs. Montana State and at San Diego. To access video for the games visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "video" link to watch through BigWest.tv on Sunday and TheW.tv on Tuesday.
LISTEN LIVE
There will be live audio streaming available for Cal State Fullerton's games vs. Montana State. To access audio for the games visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "audio" link. Audio will only be available on Tuesday through the live video link.
LIVE STATS
There will be live stats available for Cal State Fullerton's games vs. Montana State and at San Diego. To access live stats for the games visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "live stats" link.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), and YouTube.com (YouTube.com/csfathletics). In addition, the women's basketball team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/WBBTitans), Instagram(WBB_Titans), and Twitter pages (@WBBTitans).
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Cal State Fullerton (0-0) vs. Montana State (0-0)
Overall record..................................0-1
Home Record...................................0-0
Away Record....................................0-0
Neutral Site Record..........................0-1
Longest Win Streak.............................0
Longest Losing Streak.........................1
Current Streak.................................L 1
Record in Last 10 Meetings...............0-1
Last Meeting ......................Nov. 24, 2006 (L, 86-63)
Cal State Fullerton (0-0) vs. San Diego (0-0)
Overall Record............................... 7-12
Home Record ................................. 4-6
Away Record ...................................3-6
Neutral Site Record..........................0-0
Longest Win Streak.............................4
Longest Losing Streak.........................7
Current Streak.................................L 7
Record in Last 10 Meetings...............1-9
Last Meeting ......................Dec. 4, 2013 (L, 65-42)
SERIES NOTES
MONTANA STATE: The only time these two schools have met was the MSU Wingate Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 24, 2006. The Bobcats came out on top 86-63.
SAN DIEGO: The Toreros have had the edge in the series against the Titans recently, Fullerton has posted a 1-9 record in the past 10 meetings with San Diego. The Titans last win aginst the Toreros was Dec. 14, 2002 at Titan Gym by the score of 76-74.
FULLERTON'S LAST TIME OUT
The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team lost an exhibition game Nov. 7 at Titan Gym as the California Baptist Lancers beat the Titans 64-56.
CBU's hot-shooting first half put the Titans back on their heels as the Lancers shot 45 percent from the field compared to the Titans 28 percent shooting. The Titans received big scoring nights from Chante Miles, who accounted for 12 points, Amanda Tivenius who had 13 points in her debut, Daeja Smith who contributed 12 points, and Samantha Logan who scored 10 points with a team-high nine rebounds.
BREAKING DOWN THE BOBCATS
Montana State returns eight letterwinners, including four starters from last year's team that went 15-15 overall. The senior trio of Ausha Cole, Kalli Durham, and Jackie Elliott will be asked to lead the Bobcats in the early going.
Junior Jasmine Hommes returns as the Bobcats leading scorer putting in 13.7 points per game after starting all 30 games last year. She was also named to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-Big Sky Conference Second-Team this season.
The Bobcats were picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky coaches preseason poll and seventh in the preseason media poll.
In their first exhibition game against Minot State on Nov. 9, five Bobcats reached double-figures, led by Hommes with 17 points. Also reaching double-digits were Hannah Caudill (16 points), Kalli Durham (15), Jackie Elliott (12) and Alexa Dawkins (11).
BREAKING DOWN THE TOREROS
San Diego is coming off its fourth 20-win season in program history. The Toreros posted an overall record of 24-9 last season, and reached the Sweet 16 of the WNIT.
Last year, the Toreros won their first 15 games, and recorded the program's first-ever national ranking of No. 24 in both the Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls. The 15-0 start was not only the best in program history, but the best start for any team at USD in the Division I era.
After sitting out last year, redshirt sophomore guard Maya Hood has returned. Hood was the West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2013, after being the team's second leading scorer with a 10.3 ppg average. Hood scored in double figures in seven consecutive games to close out the 2012-13 season. In WCC action, Hood averaged 11.4 ppg, while shooting .549 from the field.
CONFERENCE CALL
Cal State Fullerton is 14-16 all-time against the Big Sky Conference, and 45-63 all-time versus West Coast Conference opponents.
THE PARK ERA CONTINUES
In his first season at the helm of the Cal State Fullerton women's basketball program, Daron Park guided the Titans to a 12-18 overall record and 8-8 record in the Big West Conference. After many years as an associate head coach, interim head coach, and assistant, Park helped three Titans earn All-Big West Conference honors. Park is the first male head coach in Cal State Fullerton women's basketball history and recorded his first win as the head coach of the Titans on Nov. 22, 2013 versus Columbia.
NEW FACES ON THE BENCH
Nikki Turner:
Turner joins the Titans' support staff after spending one season at Shepherd University, a Division II University in West Virginia. While at Shepherd, Turner was an assistant coach and served as the recruiting coordinator. From 2004-2009, Turner served as the head coach at UC Santa Cruz, where she also worked as an assistant athletic director and sports information director. Turner is a former collegiate player, spending two seasons at Chico State from 1997-99, graduating with a Bachelor's of Arts in sociology from the school before completing her Master's degree in sports administration. While working on her master's, she also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Chico State women's basketball team.
As a player, she was a team captain and a two-time all-conference selection. Prior to attending Chico State, Turner played two seasons at the College of the Canyons in Valencia, Calif.
Abi Olajuwon:
The daughter of NBA Hall Of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, becomes the final addition to the Titans' coaching staff for the 2014-15 season.
"Abi is an incredibly energetic, enthusiastic, and driven person who has experienced success on the highest levels, playing in two Final Fours before going to play in the WNBA. She will be an incredible mentor to our players and a wonderful presence in the gym and community selling our program."
INDIVIDUALS IN THE BIG WEST (2013-14 Statistics)
Chante Miles: 36.1 m.p.g. • 115 asst. • 48 stl. • 13.9 p.p.g
Kathleen Iwuoha: 30.8 m.p.g. • 52% FG • 195 reb. • 10.6 p.p.g.
Samantha Logan: Big West All-Freshman • 29.4 m.p.g. • 40% 3FG • 7.9 p.p.g.
Hailey King: 26.0 m.p.g. • 93 reb. • 5.3 p.pg.
Tailer Butler: 19.6 m.p.g. • 30 asst. • 32 stl. • 5.2 p.p.g
Natalie Williams: 14.0 m.p.g. • 40% FG • 82 reb. • 3.2 p.p.g.
TITANS SIXTH IN BIG WEST POLL
The Big West Preseason Media Poll was released on Oct. 22 with the Titans picked to finish sixth during the 2014-15 season. After sweeping both the regular season and tournament titles last season, CSUN is the favorite to take home the crown once again this season. Hawai'i checked in behind the Matadors, earning one first place vote. Cal Poly was voted to finish third after back-to-back trips to the tournament finals and UC Davis finishes the top half of the poll at fourth. Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara round out the rest of the poll.
BY THE NUMBERS
Junior forward Natalie Williams led the Titans with 14 blocked shots last season and is now tied with Charlee Underwood (2003-2007) for eighth on the all-time career shot blockers at Cal State Fullerton.
Kathleen Iwuoha poured in a career-high 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds March 1, 2014 against Long Beach State. Iwuoha set new career highs in field goals made (9), free throws made (7), and minutes played (40).
Senior guard Chante Miles scored a career-high 26 points last sesaon versus Cal Poly on Feb. 20, and dished out a career-high nine assists against UC Irvine on March 6.
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Cal State Fullerton's 2014-15 slate will feature eight teams that were either in the NCAA tournament or WNIT postseason tournaments a year ago, with five of those matchups appearing in the non-conference schedule.
"I'm very excited about our upcoming non-conference schedule," said Park. "I think it is a great schedule filled with great tests that ultimately will prepare us for the Big West Conference. Villanova and Albany are two great teams that we get the opportunity to play here at home. Both are extremely well-coached. We played Albany last year at their place and they are extremely talented. We will have to be at our best early to compete with those teams. Certainly tough road trips in state to Fresno State and San Diego, but it's important to play those teams. They are what we are aspiring to be eventually. "
GLOBE TROTTING
Fullerton's global reach became a little longer this season with two newcomers from outside of the U.S. Freshman Amanda Tivenius hailing from Lindingo, Sweden, and Dhanyel Johnson from Spanish Town, Jamaica.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Titans welcome six new faces to the squad for the 2014-15 season. Here is more on the transfers and true freshmen ready to make an impact this season:
Lakyn Gulley • G • 5-7 • South Side HS, Ind.
Four-year varsity starter for South Side High School in Fort Wayne, Ind...averaged 7.3 points, 2.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game as a junior...during her junior year, Gulley helped lead the Archers to a 24-4 overall record, a perfect 10-0 league mark, and a trip to the Indiana State Championship game before eventually falling to Bedford North Lawrence 54-51…recorded a career-high 18 points when she knocked down 6-for-7 from three-point range vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury on Nov. 28, 2012…contributed a career-high six steals vs. Fort Wayne Bishop on Dec. 27, 2012…named to the 2012 all-conference team...had eight double-digit scoring games and 15 games with at least two three-point field goals…plays for Pal Elite Fort Wayne AAU team.
Dhanyel Johnson • C • 6-3 • St. Andrews HS, Spanish Town, Jamaica
Played one season (2013-14) for Clarendon College in Clarendon, Texas, under head coach Brand Vanden-Boogard…averaged 4.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks …posted career highs of 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 blocks.
Portia Neale • G • 5-8 • Clovis West HS, Calif.
Played four seasons for the Eagles under head coach Craig Campbell... was named the All-Valley Defensive Player of the year during her junior and senior seasons... voted the Tri-River league and team's most valuable player during her senior season... during her junior season, she was voted to the all-league first team and was the co-mvp for the Eagles... named the team's top defensive player during her freshman and sophomore seasons... also ran two seasons of track, while being named to the All-league team during her freshman season... also competed in three seasons of badminton at Clovis West.
Deija Smith • C • 6-3 • Etiwanda HS, Calif.
Played four seasons for the Eagles under head coach Craig Campbell... was named the All-Valley Defensive Player of the year during her junior and senior seasons... voted the Tri-River league and team's most valuable player during her senior season... during her junior season, she was voted to the all-league first team and was the co-mvp for the Eagles... named the team's top defensive player during her freshman and sophomore seasons... also ran two seasons of track, while being named to the All-league team during her freshman season... also competed in three seasons of badminton at Clovis West.
Amanda Tivenius • G/F • 6-0 • Hersbey Gymnasium, Lindingo, Sweden
A 2014 graduate of Hersby Gymnasium in Lidingö, Sweden…played one season at Basketligan Dam and two seasons at Basketettan…averaged 10.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.4 steals per game in 35 minutes per game in her first season at Basketten…averaged 13.0 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.18 steals per game in her second season…scored 26 points, had 15 rebounds and four assists in her best game…averaged 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in her first season in the Basketliegan…scored nine points and added 11 rebounds in her best game…won an award for the best student of French in 2014.
A LOOK BACK
Cal State Fullerton finished the season 12-18 overall and 8-8 in the Big West conference under first year head coach Daron Park. The 2013-14 squad had its most conference wins since the 2009-10 season and secured its eighth double-digit win season in the last nine years.
JOIN THE "TIP-OFF" CLUB
The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball program invites fans and supporters of the Titans to join the "Tipoff Club," a club created to allow fans to become engaged specifically with the Fullerton women's basketball team. Membership benefits include an opportunity to support and improve the quality of the program, a regular newsletter with insights from the coaching staff, a lanyard to gain access to select pregame chalk talks, and an invitation to participate in special events with the team.
For more information or to make a gift to the women's basketball team and become a member of the "Tipoff Club," please make a gift by visiting: https://giving.fullerton.edu/giving/giving.aspx?szAccount_no=95993
GAMES TO WATCH IN 2014-15
Nov. 16 • vs Montana State – Season opener for the Titans and coach Park facing his alma mater.
Nov. 21 • vs. Villanova – First time the Titans will square off against the Wildcats in school history. Also, a tough test vs. a 2014 WNIT team (23-9 overall, 12-6 Big East Conference).
Dec. 6 • at South Dakota – Early season road test for the Titans versus the 2013 Summit League Champions and rematch of last year's season opener that South Dakota won 66-57 at Titan Gym.
Dec. 14 • at Fresno State – A week after facing off against South Dakota, the Titans will travel north to face another NCAA Tournament team from a year ago.
Dec. 21 • vs. Albany – 2014 NCAA Tournament team and America East defending champions comes to Titan Gym to face the Titans.
Jan. 8 • vs. UC Riverside – Big West Season and home opener
Jan. 31 • at Long Beach State – First time the two teams will play since the Titans fell to the 49ers in the 2014 Big West Tournament first round at The Pyramid.
Feb. 7 • at Cal State Northridge – Titans will head on the road to take on the 2014 Big West Tournament Champions led by last year's conference player of the year Ashlee Guay.
Feb. 28 • vs. Long Beach State – The Titans and 49ers square off for the second time during the 2014-15 season, but this time at Titan Gym.
Mar. 5 • vs. UC Irvine – Cal State Fullerton's Senior Night
*For tickets to Titan women's basketball games log onto www.FullertonTitans.com and click the "Tickets" link.
