FULLERTON – The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team executed its offense efficiently as six players scored in double figures en route to a 97-49 victory over Whittier College on Monday night at Titan Gym.
The Titans are now 1-4 on the season, while the Poets have opened the 2016-17 campaign with three consecutive losses.
"It was great to be home after playing three of our first four games on the road," head coach Daron Park said. "With this many new faces on our team, it's nice to play in our gym. I thought we came out and were spirited. Every time we are on the court, we talk about playing to improve, to get better, and at this point in the season, it's not as much about whom we are playing, but how we are playing. I thought tonight we did some really good things."
Iman Lathan scored a game-high 26 points – just one short of her career high – on 9-of-12 shooting while adding seven rebounds and three assists.
Jordan Jackson added 14 points and knocked down three 3-pointers, while Keimeshia Walker scored a career-high 13 points, drained three buckets from long distance and added three assists as well as a game-high five steals.
"The things that stood out to me the most were the times that we made one more pass or the times that we drove into the paint, had two players guarding us, came to a jump stop, played under control and found the open person," Park said.
China Henderson recorded her first double-double as a Titan with a career-high 11 points to go along with a career-best 16 rebounds and game-high five assists.
Daeja Smith recorded the third double-double of her career with 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while Dhanyel Johnson also scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
The Titans shot 47.8 percent (33-of-69) from the floor and held a 58-38 rebounding advantage including 23 on the offensive end which led to 23 second-chance points.
Fullerton outscored Whittier 44-18 in the paint, scored 22 points off the Poets' 22 turnovers and held a 41-24 advantage in bench scoring.
Emily Underwood led Whittier with 11 points.
Cal State Fullerton held a 49-28 advantage at the half as Lathan and Walker led the Titans with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Titans quickly built a 13-point, 17-4 lead with 2:36 to lead in the first quarter.
Walker gave the Titans a 21-point halftime lead with a block, defensive rebound and half court 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Titans return to action for two additional home games this week with Montana visiting on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. tip-off. Fullerton will also host Loyola Marymount at 4 p.m., Sunday from Titan Gym.
Notes: Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series with Whittier 1-0…the Titans' 48-point victory is its largest since a 49-point 95-46 win against San Jose State on Jan. 7, 1990…the Titans last scored 97 points in a 100-74 win against Sacramento State on Dec. 9, 2010…Daeja Smith and China Henderson recorded Fullerton's first two double-doubles of the year…each of CSF's nine players that saw action scored…Lathan has scored at least 20 points on three occasions this season.
