Defense Shines in Titans' Loss to Hawai'i

Defense Shines in Titans' Loss to Hawai'i

Box Score (PDF)
Post Game Quotes (PDF) 

FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team lost a low-scoring affair to the University of Hawai'i, 54-43, Saturday night at Titan Gym behind Shawna-Lei Kuehu 's 17 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Kuehu was held to only two points off the bench in the entire first half by the stifling Titan defense, but turned it on down the stretch scoring 15 points in the second half and willed the Rainbow Wahine to victory at Titan Gym.  In 28 minutes on the floor Kuehu shot an efficient 6-of-9 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

The Titans only lead of the game came in a two-minute stretch early in the first half after Dhanyel Johnson's jumper fell through the basket to give CSF the 10-9 lead.  A Chante Miles jumper following a Tailer Butler steal handed the Titans their largest and final lead of the game at 12-9 before UH's Ashleigh Karaitiana drained a three-point shot to tie the game at 12-12 with 9:52 left in the opening frame.

Karaitiana would go on to hit another three pointer in the half and shoot 3-of-6 from the field in the first half to lead Hawai'i with eight points going into the break.  The 'Bows shot 11-of-28 (39 percent) from the field, and 4-of-11 (36 percent) from behind the arc to take a 26-17 lead over the Titans heading into halftime.

Miles led the Titans with 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.  The senior was the Titans only option in the first half, scoring four of Fullerton's six field goals of the half.  Kathleen Iwuoha and Johnson were the only other Titans to contribute a field goal in the first 20 minutes of the game.  With 10 points at halftime Miles hit a milestone in her Titan career, passing Andrea Thieme (1,290 points) for 10th place on the Fullerton all-time scoring list.

The second half was more of the same for the ice-cold CSF offense. The defense did all it could do, continuing to force turnovers and missed shots by the Rainbow Wahine to stay within striking distance.

The Titans (9-14, 3-7) shot slightly better from the field in the second half at 36 percent (10-of-28), but did not hit a three-point shot in the final frame, going 0-of-4 from deep down the stretch.

Led by Iwuoha and Miles all game long, Fullerton cut into the UH lead halfway through the final 20 minutes.  The closest the Titans would come to the 'Bows would be six points after a Miles jumper with 11:13 left to play. 

After the Miles jumper brought some life back into the Titans, Kuehu stepped in and dominated the last 10 minutes of the game, scoring 13 points to close it out.

Hawai'i (17-7, 9-2) shot 36 percent (16-of-52) from the field and 22 percent (4-of-18) from behind the three-point line.  CSF shot 31 percent (16-of-52) from the field and had its worst night shooting from deep, only making 1-of-8 three-point attempts in the game.

Iwuoha posted her team-leading sixth double double of the season on Saturday night at Titan Gym by scoring 13 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.  Miles led all scorers with 21 points, making it her 21st-consecutive game scoring in double figures.

The Titans will hit the road for their next two Big West Conference contests, matching up with Cal Poly on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Mott Gym and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at The Thunderdome.

Tonight's game at Titan Gym was Fullerton women's basketball annual "Pink Game" in support of the Play4Kay Foundation, a foundation commited to finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers.  For more information on how you can support the Play4Kay Foundation, log on to www.play4kay.org.

Notes: The Titans all-time record against the Rainbow Wahine drops to 15-15…Fullerton has lost five-straight Big West Conference games after starting the season with two consecutive wins…CSF is now 205-251 all-time against Big West Conference opponents…The Titans have failed to take two-straight games from Hawai'i since opening the series with eight straight wins, Fullerton won the last meeting between the two teams last season and was looking to win two-straight tonight…Chante Miles keeps climbing up the Fullerton all-time scorers list, she now sits in 10th place overall with 1,303 points in her Titan career….She is now 79 points shy of Charlee Underwood (1,382 points) for 9th on the all-time list.

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