FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team opens the 2012-13 season with an exhibition contest against the University of La Verne on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Titan Gym on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.
The contest will be the first and only exhibition game for the Titans before the 2012-13 regular season gets under way on Friday, Nov. 9 at Nevada.
Fourth-year head coach Marcia Foster and Cal State Fullerton return two starters from last season's squad that finished 11-19 overall and eighth in the Big West with a 4-12 record. The Titans were the No. 8 seed in last year's conference tournament, falling to top-seeded Cal Poly in the opening round for the second consecutive season, 71-53.
A new era of Fullerton basketball begins on Saturday, as the team will have to replace nearly half of last season's scoring. Fullerton said goodbye to two of the team's top three scorers from a year ago in Megan Richardson (16.1 ppg) and Lauren Chow (8.1 ppg) due to graduation.
However, the Titans will have some stability with the return of 2012 All-Big West honorable mention pick Mya Olivier, who enters the season as the team's leading rebounder (7.4 rpg) and the second-leading scorer (8.8 ppg) from a year ago. The return of 26-game starter Kathleen Iwuoha also provides reason for optimism as she looks to build off a solid freshman campaign where she averaged 5.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
La Verne is a Division III athletic institution and a member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Leopards are coming off a 2012 campaign that saw the club finish 8-17 overall with a 6-8 mark in the SCIAC, good enough for fifth place.
La Verne returns seven players from last year's squad, including the team's top two scoring options from a year ago in guards Meagan Musashi (11.8 ppg) and Amanda Copas (11.0 ppg). The Leopards post an average height of 5-foot-8, with the tallest players being senior center Kayla Cribbs (will not play Saturday due to volleyball obligations) and freshman center Emily Myers, both standing at 5-foot-11. Cal State Fullerton boasts six players 6-feet or taller.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
Admission for this Saturday's game is free for all fans.
Single-game tickets for regular-season games are priced from $5-$7. Season ticket packages also offer a savings of nearly 30 percent off of single-game ticket prices ranging from $50-$70 including all 14 regular season home games.
Tickets for future games can be purchased at fullertontitans.com, in-person at Cal State Fullerton's Athletic Ticket Office (M- F, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.) or over the phone at 657-278-CSUF (2783). Game day ticket sales will also be available starting one hour before tip-off at the ticket windows directly in front of Titan Gym.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (CSUF.Athletics), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) and YouTube.com (YouTube.com/csfathletics). In addition, the women's basketball team has established its own official Facebook and Twitter pages (@WBBTitans)
REGISTER FOR THE 2012-13 TIP-OFF PARTY
The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team invites fans and supporters of the program to its third-annual Tip-Off Celebration and fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. at the Titan Student Union Pavilion on campus.
Tickets are $40 for a night of fun, food, and dancing as attendees will get a chance to meet with and hear from head coach Marcia Foster and the rest of the coaching staff as well as members of the 2012-13 Titans' squad.
For more information about the event, please contact assistant coach Monica Quan via email at mquan@fullerton.edu or at 657-278-7655, or register online for the event by clicking here.
TITANS TABBED 10TH IN BIG WEST MEDIA POLL
The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team was picked to finish 10th in the 2012-13 Big West Conference race according to a vote of league media members released by the conference office on Oct. 24.
The Titans received 29 points to finish just behind Orange County rival UC Irvine, which was ninth with 65 points. Cal State Northridge managed to just edge out Pacific as the favorite to take home the conference crown with six first place votes and 161 points overall. Pacific was tabbed second with 159 points (five first place votes), UC Santa Barbara third with 153 points (three first place votes), Cal Poly fourth with 127 votes (one first place vote), Long Beach State fifth with 116 points (one first place vote), Hawai'i sixth with 81 points, UC Davis seventh with 80 first place votes, and UC Riverside eighth with 74 points.
A STREAK'S A STREAK
Cal State Fullerton enters Saturday's meeting with La Verne riding an eight-game exhibition win streak dating back to a 78-57 loss to "Love & Basketball" on Oct. 30, 2004. Since then, the Titans have posted wins over Point Loma (three times), Biola (three times), Cal Poly Pomona, and Cal State Los Angeles.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday's exhibition contest will be the Titans' first live action of the year and the team's final and only tune-up game until Fullerton officially opens the season at Nevada on Friday, Nov. 9. The Titans will then make their home debut that same weekend, Sunday, Nov. 11 vs. Sacramento State at Titan Gym.
FILLING IN THE HOLES
Cal State Fullerton returns just 52 percent of its 1,830 points scored, 60 percent of its rebounds, 53 percent of its field goals made, 28 percent of its three-pointers made, 61 percent of its free throws made, 43 percent of its assists, and 63 percent of its steals from a season ago.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Titans bring in four new faces to this year's squad, but only two true freshmen compared to the seven that joined last year's team. The Titans welcome Brianna Barfield (TR, Citrus JC), Xava Grooms (TR, Utah State), Briana Hubbard (FR), and Annie Park (FR).
YOU CAN'T TEACH TALL
This year's Titan squad could be one of the tallest in recent memory; featuring six players listed at 6-feet or taller –tied for the tallest Fullerton squad since the 2007-08 squad listed seven players taller than 6-foot.
PROMOTIONS SCHEDULE
The following is a scheduled list of promotions for select women's basketball home games this season.
Nov. 30th – vs. Northern Arizona
Buddy Night- Purchase two tickets for the price of one.
Dec. 22nd – vs. San Jose State
Girl Scout and Autograph Night- Girl Scout troops will receive free admission to the game (Troops must email athletictix@fullerton.edu prior to the event to receive free entry)
Dec. 31st – vs. Columbia
New Years Eve Bash- Everyone will receive $5 admission to ring in the New Year.
Jan. 3rd – vs. Hawai'i
Pack the House/ Kids and Autograph Night- youth in grades eighth and under will receive free admission.
Jan. 5th – vs. Cal State Northridge
High School Teams' Day- All high school teams will receive free admission to the game (Teams must email athletictix@fullerton.edu prior to the event to receive free entry)
Jan. 17th – vs. UC Irvine
Fan Appreciation Night- Fans that buy a ticket for January 17th will receive a free ticket for the Thursday, Feb. 28 game vs. UC Santa Barbara.
Jan. 24th – vs. UC Davis
Educator Appreciation Night- K-12 educators and administrators will receive two free tickets to the game.
Jan. 26th – vs. Pacific
Military Appreciation Day- Past and present military personnel will receive two free tickets to the game.
Feb. 9th – vs. UC Riverside
Pink Day- All fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.
Feb. 14th – vs. Long Beach State
Rivalry Night- All fans who wear orange and blue will receive a free Titans rally towel.
Feb. 28th – vs. UC Santa Barbara
Orange and Blue Night- All fans are encouraged to wear orange and blue in support of the Titans.
Mar. 2nd – vs. Cal Poly
Senior Night- Titans basketball seniors will be honored.