BERKELEY, Calif.— Despite being outscored by just a total of seven points over the past two games, Cal State Fullerton leaves the Bay Area without a win, after falling in the consolation game of the Cal Classic, 50-45, to Eastern Washington Saturday afternoon.
Eastern Washington (2-3) guard Lexie Nelson knocked down 12-of-14 free throws and put in a game-high 15 points, while center Carrie Ojeda recorded 11 rebounds and 11 points for her eighth career double-double to help pace the Eagles.
For the first time this season, no Titan posted double-digit points, as Brianna Barfield and Alex Thomas led the way, each collecting nine points and four rebounds in the loss.
Cal State Fullerton (2-4) struggled from the field for the second consecutive game, as the Titans hit just one field goal through the first eight minutes of play, trailing 16-4 with 11:54 left to play in the first half.
The Titans would grind their way back into the game, converting on 7-of-8 free throw attempts down the stretch to make it just a 28-22 halftime deficit despite shooting just 33 percent for the half.
Tailer Butler knocked down one of her two field goals to bring Fullerton to within 29-26 with 16:19 left to play in the second half, but yet another long scoreless drought put the Titans back in a big hole, as they fell behind 39-26 with 9:36 to play.
The Titans fought back one more time, scoring in three consecutive trips down the floor, and after a Thomas trey capped-off a mini 7-3 run, Fullerton trailed just 46-43 at the 2:29 mark.
However, that's as close as the Titans would get, as the Eagles' Nelson got to the free throw line on three separate occasions in the final two-plus minutes to help ice the game for Eastern Washington.
Cal State Fullerton heads back to Southern California riding a season-high three-game losing skid after dropping both games up at the Cal Classic.
The Titans will try to get back to their winning ways when they welcome in the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks to Titan Gym next Friday at 7:00 p.m. Fullerton has won four straight home games going back to last season.