Chris Hargraves (Assistant Director of Championships & Communications) of the Big West Conference writes about junior Daeja Smith and her journey at Cal State Fullerton.

By CHRIS HARGRAVES // Full article

Athletes are told that how they respond to adversity ultimately shows what kind of person they are. Some shrink and run away while others embrace the challenge and forge ahead with renewed vigor.

For Cal State Fullerton women's basketball player Daeja Smith, her collegiate career has been one long test in adversity. The redshirt junior's career started well enough…she appeared in 32 games her freshman season in 2014-15, averaging 4.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in about 18 minutes per contest. She even found herself among the starting five 23 times.

Those first steps weren't easy for the youngster from Etiwanda High School, an exciting but raw prospect who needed time to develop. 

"It was hard because I wasn't that skilled coming in and a lot of people were better than me," says Smith. "It was so hard because the team depended on me but the competition was so different."

After a year that saw the Titans advance to the Big West Tournament semifinal, Smith was working hard in the offseason when the injury bug came calling. She tore her meniscus during a summer workout. Eight weeks of rehab and she was back but the adversity didn't end there. During another preseason workout, Smith turned to outlet a pass to a teammate and tore her ACL. The injury would shelve Smith for the season, one in which the squad went 3-27 and missed the Big West Tournament.

Click here for the full article from the Big West Conference.

SUPPORT THE TITANS!
Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitans.com/Tickets. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at the eastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.

FOLLOW THE TITANS
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (@FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), and Instagram (@FullertonTitans) and Snapchat (FullertonTitans). In addition, the women's basketball team has established its own official Twitter page (@WBBTitans) and Facebook Page (@WBBTitans).