Box Score (PDF)
CHENEY, Wash. --- Cal State Fullerton's Dhanyel Johnson and Daeja Smith each reached career scoring highs and posted double-doubles, respectively, on Thursday morning at Eastern Washington, but the Titans season-high 25 turnovers plagued Fullerton in an 84-67 loss to the Eagles at Reese Court.
The reigning Big West Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week, Iman Lathan, scored a team-leading 21 points – her fourth consecutive 20-point game – and led the Titans (2-6) with four assists and four steals, but the most telling stat of the game was EWU scoring 38 points off Fullerton's 25 miscues.
The Eagles (5-3) knocked down 15 three-pointers, matching the most long distance buckets Fullerton has allowed from an opponent this season.
Eastern Washington's Delaney Hodgins scored a game-high 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, draining six three-pointers while adding a game-high five assists in addition to four steals. Tisha Phillips poured in 25 points to go along with seven boards, four assists and a game-high six steals.
For Fullerton, Johnson shot 8-of-13 from the floor and set career highs with 19 points and 12 rebounds to post her first double-double of the season, while Daeja Smith added a career-high 17 points in addition to 10 rebounds and two blocks for her third double-double in Fullerton's last four games.
The Titans shot a season-best 51.9 percent (28-of-54) from the field, but connected on just 1-of-6 three-point attempts and a poor 10-of-24 effort from the free-throw line.
The Eagles shot 47.1 percent (32-of-68) from the floor and 50.0 percent (15-of-30) from three-point range with six different players draining at least one bucket from behind the arc.
The Titans held a 40-29 rebounding advantage and outscored EWU 46-30 in the paint.
Aside from the opening 2-0 Titan lead, the Eagles led for the entire way, pulling away quickly in the first period with a 27-6 advantage after 10 minutes as Eastern Washington scored 15 points off 11 early Titan miscues.
Fullerton was able to pull within striking distance, 42-31, at the half, but the Eagles opened the third quarter on a 13-2 run to build a 22-point lead.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action at 2 p.m., Saturday at Portland State.
Notes: Cal State Fullerton 2-7 all-time against Eastern Washington and is 1-2 against opponents from the Big Sky Conference this season…Iman Lathan has scored at least 20 points in four straight games, bringing her season total to six…she has also led the Titans in scoring for four consecutive games…Dhanyel Johnson posted her first double-double of the season setting career highs with 19 points and 12 rebounds…Daeja Smith recorded her third double-double in the last four games while scoring a career high 17 points…the Titans shot a season best 51.9 percent from the floor and committed a season-high 25 turnovers.
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