RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Cal State Fullerton was plagued by early turnovers and UC Riverside was able to capitalize as the defending Big West Conference regular season champions defeated the Titans, 68-45 at SRC Arena on Saturday night.
With the win, UC Riverside improves 10-8 overall and 4-1 in the Big West while Cal State Fullerton (4-15, 1-5 BWC) drops its second straight.
The league's leading scorer, Réjane Vérin, scored a game-high 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists. Also reaching double figures for the Highlanders was Michelle Curry with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while Malou De Kergret poured in 13 points knocking down three three-pointers. Skyler Lewis grabbed eight rebounds and blocked five shots for UCR.
Iman Lathan came off the bench to lead Cal State Fullerton with 14 points, while Daeja Smith recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
UC Riverside shot 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the field and delivered 20 assists on 27 baskets. The Titans committed 18 turnovers leading to 29 UCR points, and Fullerton was held to a .204 (12-of-50) shooting percentage.
The Titans trailed 37-17 at the break as UC Riverside opened the game on a 9-0 run and held CSF without a field goal until Jade Vega's three-pointer at the 3:13 mark of the first quarter leading to a 15-5 lead for the Highlanders.
UCR ended the second quarter on a 9-1 run as Curry scored 12 points in the first half while Riverside scored 20 points off CSF's 10 first-half turnovers. Fullerton was held to six points in the second quarter.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action at 7 p.m., Thursday hosting Long Beach State at Titan Gym.
Notes: Daeja Smith recorded her sixth double-double of the season (second in a row) scoring 11 points and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds…Fullerton's 20-point halftime deficit was its largest in Big West Conference play…Fullerton trailed by as many as 36 in the game, which matched its second largest deficit of the season.
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