SEATTLE, Wash. – Fullerton opened up their 2018-19 season with a 57-54 victory over Seattle University thanks to an 11-0 run in the final five minutes of the game.
"What a great team win tonight," said head coach Jeff Harada. "It definitely looked like early November basketball at times, but I'm very proud of our team's resolve and how we were able to overcome adversity both individually and collectively. We talked before the game about having some grit and I think we definitely showed it. Bottom line is that it wasn't a pretty win but any win, especially on the road, is a good win."
Daeja Smith led the way with her first double-double of the season putting up 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Jade Vega filled out the stat sheet with 15 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and five steals. Hannah Thompson was the third and final double-digit scorer with 12 points.
With Smith's 12 boards, she becomes just the eleventh player in Titan history to have 800-plus career points and 600-career rebounds.
On the other side, Seattle had four players reach double-figures led by Joana Alves' 13 points to go along with eight rebounds. Madeline Dopplick had 11 points while Delaney McCann and Kamira Sanders each had 10 points.
The Titans scored on the first possession of the game thanks to a H. Thompson jumper and that was the start of a dominant first quarter. Fullerton would go on a 10-1 run leading into the six minute mark led by five points from Ashlee Ane. They would finish the first quarter of play leading by eight after shooting a blistering 56.3% from the field.
Unfortunately, that success would not spill over into the second quarter as the Titans shot just 18.8% from the field and 0-7 from three. Another big factor was the Fullerton foul trouble. After a foul heavy first quarter, the Titans were without Smith, Janette Mensah, and Carolyn Gill for most of the quarter. That allowed the Redhawks to get back into the game tying it up at 31 at halftime.
The third quarter was an improvement as the Titans shot 35.7% and more importantly got their fouling under control. Unfortunately, the Redhawks were matching them shot for shot and Seattle went into the fourth with the lead.
Seattle started the fourth with a 6-0 run and had their lead up to eight before Fullerton put an end to it. The teams would go back and forth until the five-minute mark as the Titans saw themselves down by eight. With 4:30 on the clock, Vega drained a deep three to give the Titans some momentum.
.@JadeeeeQ for �� pic.twitter.com/VEByXcixMM
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) November 7, 2018
After that, CSF went on an 11-0 run until the final horn sounded giving them the 57-54 victory.
It is the first time since 2008-10 that the Titans have won back-to-back season openers.
Fullerton continues their Pacific Northwest trip with a game against the Washington Huskies on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Homecoming – Saturday, December 1, 2018
Cal State Fullerton is set to host its first ever Double Header at the 2018 Homecoming Event on Saturday, December 1st. Women's Basketball takes on CSU Bakersfield at 2:30pm followed by Men's Basketball taking on Cal Lutheran at 6:00pm. In between the two games fans can take part in the Homecoming pre-game festival. Homecoming package includes general admission to the festival and both Women's and Men's Basketball games, a custom student designed T-shirt, meal voucher for In-N-Out Burger, and non-alcoholic beverages. Click HERE for Homecoming Package options. The pre-game festival begins at 2:00pm, so come early and make a day out of it with the Titans! For more information on Homecoming go to https://alumni.fullerton.edu/studentoutreach/homecoming
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.
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Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), and Instagram (FullertonTitans). In addition, the softball team has established its own Twitter (@FullertonWBB) and Instagram accounts (@FullertonWBB).