Box Score (PDF)
FULLERTON, Calif. – Another buzzer-beating layup by freshman Jade Vega wasn't enough as the Titans as they dropped their third-straight game in a 56-61 overtime loss to Wyoming at Titan Gym on Tuesday night.
"I have so much respect for Wyoming, so much respect for Coach Legerski and that crew. I've known them for a lot of years and competed against them many times and it always seems like it comes down to one play," said third-year head coach Daron Park. "It was a great, great basketball game and I'm really proud of our kids, really proud of our energy, effort and enthusiasm."
Cal State Fullerton drops to 2-3 overall and record their third-straight loss this season.
Early in the first period of the game, the Titans played catch-up as Wyoming would get on the board first and the Titans would trail right behind. Karima Gabriel and Dani Craig started the scoring with the combination of a Gabriel layup and a Craig three.
Jade Vega gets the Titans back in it with a three-pointer to put the Titans back within five. Amanda Tivenius helped change the momentum by coming up with a huge block for the Titans and following that with a three of her own.
At the end of the first period, the Titans trailed the Cowgirls 21-11 while they surrendered eight turnovers to Wyoming's one.
Craig opened up the second period for the Titans breaking through the Cowgirl defense with less than 10 seconds left on the shot clock to put up a layup to cut the deficit to eight. After an 11-point run, the Titans erased Wyoming's 10-point lead and held the Cowgirls scoreless going into the media timeout in the second period.
The Titans didn't stop there as Michelle Berry and Craig added to the fire by extending the Titan lead to four. Great defense by the Titans in the second period held the Cowgirls to only two points to head into the half leading Wyoming 27-23.
At the half, Craig and Vega led the Titans offensively with eight and seven points respectively, while Tivenius and Berry each ended the half with four rebounds apiece.
Wyoming opened up the second half by getting on the board first to cut the deficit in half. Gabriel answered right back with two good free throws and a layup to put the Titans back up by six in the third period.
Gabriel scored the first six points for the Titans in the third period. Shortly after, Wyoming went on a 8-point run to regain the lead.
After a jump-shot from Berry, the Titans end the third period tied up at 35 each.
In the fourth period, the Titans and Cowgirls repeated just how they started, battling back and forth playing catch-up with one another.
A three-pointer from Sami Logan put the Titans ahead by two, sparking a fire in the Titans.
Going into the last minute, a loose ball was rewarded to Wyoming, forcing Fullerton to come up with something after trailing by two with 11.3 seconds left on the clock.
Beating the buzzer is a familiar task to Vega as she hit a layup to tie up the game to lead the Titans into overtime for the first time this season.
At the end of regulation, Vega led the Titans with 11 points and six assists while Craig pitched in 10 points.
Wyoming got on the board first with a layup but a three from Logan to answer right back put the Titans back in the lead in overtime.
Yet the Cowgirls took the lead back and ultimately sealed the deal as the Titans couldn't manage to score in the final minute of overtime.
"What I am happy about is that we put ourselves in a position to win a basketball game down the stretch and we had a chance," said Coach Park.
The Titans return to action as they head to Dallas for the Southern Methodist Thanksgiving Classic this weekend. Fullerton will face Southern Methodist on Friday afternoon at 3:30 pm PST.
NOTES: The 48 points at the end of regulation is a season-low that the Titans have held opponents… The Titans have now lost three straight after winning their first two games… Craig posted her third double-digit game tonight… The team shot a team high 48.8% from the field tonight… Craig remains flawless from the free throw line (11-11).
