FULLERTON, Calif. – FullertonTitans.com, in partnership with @WBBTitans, continues to introduce Titans fans to the 2016-17 Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team prior to Friday's season opener at San Diego.
Today (Monday), we meet the sophomore class.
Jade Vega | G | So. | 5-5 | Bronx, N.Y. | Cardinal Spellman HS
Returning leading scorer from 2015-16 averaging 7.6 points per game…led the Titans with 80 assists and 38 steals…2.7 assists per game ranked ninth in the Big West Conference…had an all-around performance in the Nov. 1 exhibition victory over Hope International with three points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists.
What HC Daron Park says:
I think that Jade has made tremendous strides from the end of last season to present day. She worked very hard in the offseason on being more confident and stronger with the basketball, as well as, being better at understanding the game and the decisions that ball handlers need to make. I am really proud of the work that she put in during the offseason, and I expect to see it pay dividends for her as a sophomore.
Lauren Nubla | G | So. | 5-5 | Sacramento, Calif. | C.K. McClatchy HS
Last season averaged 3.9 points and 1.3 rebounds per game…added 32 assists and 15 steals…appeared in 29 games and made 14 starts…delivered a game-high five assists off the bench in the exhibition win over Hope International on Nov. 1…also scored four points and added one steal.
What HC Daron Park says:
Lauren is another player that had a great offseason. She is definitely more comfortable and confident on the court. I think at times last year maybe she had some uncertainty. I think that this season, she is a lot more confident and decisive. She knows her role and she understands what she does well, and that is, makes everyone on the floor better when she is on the court, and that's a very special trait.
Daeja Smith | C | RS-So. | 6-3 | Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. | Etiwanda HS
Scored 8 points off the bench and grabbed nine rebounds – five on the offensive glass – in the Nov. 1 exhibition win over Hope International…missed the 2015-16 season with a knee injury… averaged 4.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in 17.9 minutes per contest as a freshman in 2014-15.
What HC Daron Park says:
Daeja had a really good freshman year, and we were expecting her to be a really big contributor last season until she went down with a knee injury. So after sitting out all of last year, I think Daeja has really made amazing strides as a player and as a person. She completely transformed her body in the offseason. She made a commitment to getting better and getting stronger, and nobody is more excited for the season to start than Daeja. She should absolutely anchor the inside for us, and give us a tremendously physical presence in the post offensively and defensively.