Cal State Fullerton Game Notes (PDF)
Northern Arizona Game Notes (PDF)
New Mexico Game Notes (PDF)
FULLERTON, Calif.-- After playing a season-high tying three straight contests away from Titan Gym, Cal State Fullerton returns home Friday to take on Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. The Titans will then hit the road again and begin their second three-game road trip of the season, as they'll head to Albuquerque to take on the New Mexico Lobos Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Cal State Fullerton's game vs. Northern Arizona will be streamed live for free on BigWest.TV. The link is available on the CSUF women's basketball schedule link. Video coverage will also be available for the New Mexico game. Just go to www.golobos.com and go to the women's basketball page, click the "schedule/results" tab up top, then click on the "watch" link.
Audio coverage for Friday's game vs. Northern Arizona will be available for free through www.fullertontitans.com. Just click the audio link on the CSUF women's basketball schedule. No audio coverage will be provided for the game at New Mexico.
Live stats will be provided for both games this week. To access live stats for the Northern Arizona game go to www.fullertontitans.com and go to the women's basketball schedule then click live stats. To access live stats for the New Mexico game go to www.golobos.com and go to the women's basketball page, click the "schedule/results" tab up top, then click on the "GameTracker" link.
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)
A Look at the Series...
Cal State Fullerton (2-4) vs. Northern Arizona (0-6)
Overall Record 0-4
Home Record 0-1
Away Record 0-3
Neutral Site Record 0-0
Longest Win Streak N/A
Longest Losing Streak 4 games
Current Streak Loss 4
Record in Last 10 Meetings 0-4
Last Meeting
Dec. 4, 2011 at Flagstaff, Ariz. (L, 64-54)
Last Meeting at Titan Gym
Dec. 3, 2004 (L, 68-56)
Series Notes: Cal State Fullerton struggled offensively in last year's meeting at Northern Arizona, as Megan Richardson was the only Titan to score in double-figures (21 pts)...Mya Olivier was the next highest scorer for CSUF, as she put up seven points...NAU's Amy Patton went for 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting in game...She is the Lumberjacks' current leading-scorer this season (25.0 ppg)...Although Cal State Fullerton has never defeated NAU, the Lumberjacks have only outscored the Titans 278-246 in the four all-time meetings...Two of the four meetings have been decided by five points or less...Biggest margin of victory for Northern Arizona was a 68-56 Dec. 3, 2004 (12 points).
Notes on Northern Arizona
The 2012-13 marks a new era of Lumberjack basketball under first-year head coach Sue Darling. Despite the new leadership, NAU returns three starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished with a 9-20 (4-12 Big Sky) overall record and an eighth place conference finish. NAU (0-6) is still in search of its first win of the season...Roster consists of four seniors, three juniors, six sophomores, and two freshman...Senior guard Amy Patton ranks second in the NCAA in average points per game (25.0) and leads her team in rebounds per contests (6.7)...Senior forward Tyler Stephens-Jenkins ranks second on the squad in points (15.2) and third in rebounds (5.2), despite just starting four of six games thus far...Northern Arizona was picked to finish ninth in both the Big Sky coaches and media preseason poll.
Cal State Fullerton (2-2) vs. New Mexico (6-1)
Overall Record 0-3
Home Record 0-1
Away Record 0-2
Neutral Site Record 0-0
Longest Win Streak N/A
Longest Losing Streak 3 games
Current Streak Loss 3
Record in Last 10 Meetings 0-4
Last Meeting
Nov. 25, 2003 (L, 59-52)
Last Meeting at Titan Gym
Nov. 25, 2002 (W, 80-55)
Series Notes: These two schools haven't gotten together since the 2003-04 season where the Titans dropped a 59-52 contest in Albuquerque...That game was the closest margin of defeat Cal State Fullerton has had vs. the Lobos...The largest margin of defeat was an 89-52 loss Dec. 5, 1997 at New Mexico (37 pts).
Logging the Lobos
The Lobos have entered the 2012-13 season with high expectations, returning nine letterwinners and three starters from last year's squad that reached the championship game of the Mountain West Tournament after finishing seventh (3-11 Mountain West) in the conference to go along with an 11-20 overall record during the regular season. New Mexico is off to a solid 6-1 start, with their only loss coming at the hands of No. 8 Georgia over Thanksgiving weekend. The Lobos have a balanced scoring attack, sporting three players averaging 10+ points per game. Senior guard Caroline Durbane has led New Mexico to this point, averaging a team-leading 12.7 points per game while grabbing 5.7 rebounds a contest...New Mexico was picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West's preseason media and coaches poll.
Last Time Out For the Titans
Despite being outscored by just a total of seven points over the past two games, Cal State Fullerton left 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.
It's Early, but Still...
As of Nov. 27, Cal State Fullerton leads the Big West in offensive rebounding (19 rpg) ranks second in total rebounds per game (44.2), third in steals (10.3 spg), third in turnover margin (+1.83), fourth in rebounding margin (+2.0),
Streaks and Such
Cal State Fullerton has won four straight home games going back to Feb. 22, 2012 vs. UC Riverside...The Titans have dropped 11 consecutive games away from home, going back to Jan. 18, 2012 at UC Irvine...Fullerton has committed less turnovers than the opposition in four consecutive games...The Titans' bench has outscored the opponent's bench in three straight games...Fullerton is a combined 0-7 all-time vs. its next two opponents (Northern Arizona, New Mexico)...Titans have trailed at the half in four straight games.
Entering Hostile Territory
The New Mexico Lobos own one of loudest venues in all of women's basketball. New Mexico has led the Mountain West in attendence 13 consecutive seasons...In 2011-12 the Lobos averaged 6,763 fans per game, good enough for 10th most in the nation.
Heartbreak City
Three of the four Titan losses this season have come by five points or less...In those losses, Fullerton either had the lead, was tied, or was within one possession with under three minutes to play...Despite a 2-4 record, the Titans still have a positive point differential (395-394)...Fullerton is one of just two Big West schools that has a losing record, but a positive point differential.
Protecting the House
Both of Cal State Fullerton's wins this season have come at Titan Gym, outscoring opponents a combined 154-130 (+24) during those games...The Titans have won four consecutive home games going back to the 2011-12 season....Nearly 65 percent of the Titans' total wins since the 2005-06 season have come at home.
Checking in with the Titans
Head to www.fullertontitans.com and click on the women's basketball page to watch this week's basketball update video featuring junior guard Alex Thomas.
Register for 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 at www.fullertontitans.com.
Stars in the Making
With the departure of the third-highest scorer in Cal State Fullerton history in Megan Richardson (second-highest scoring guard in school history), the Titans had big shoes to fill entering 2012-13. So far sophomore guards, Chante Miles (14.5 ppg) and Tailer Butler (10.8 ppg) have had no problem filling the void. Miles currently ranks sixth in the Big West in scoring, while Butler ranks 13th, as the combo has teamed up to provide nearly 39 percent of Fullerton's points this season.
Taking the Lead
Chante Miles has scored 17+ points in four of her last five games...She has scored double-figures in five of her first six games to start the season...Miles and Megan Richardson (2011-12) are the only two Titans to accomplish that feat, since Lyndsey Grove opened up the 2010-11 season scoring double-figures in 10 straight games (Both Richardson and Grove earned All-Big West honors those seasons)...Miles' 18 points put up vs. Sacramento State Nov. 11 marked the most points any Titan player not named Megan Richardson had scored since Mya Olivier went for a career-high 23 points Jan. 28, 2012 vs. Long Beach State....Miles has had two 19+ point performances since...Miles set or tied career scoring highs in three consecutive games from Nov. 11- 20, 2012...Miles currently leads the Titans in scoring (14.5 ppg), total points (87), field goals made (29), free throws made (3.3 fpg), assists (4.0 apg), steals (3.0 spg), and minutes (35.7 mpg).
Block Party
With Lauren Bushong's two blocks at Nevada opening night she passed Charlee Underwood (50, 2003-07) for eighth on the school's all-time block list. Bushong currently owns 56 career swats. Her next block will tie Kisa Hughes (57, 1991-92) for seventh on the all-time list.
Tailoring Greatness
Tailer Butler's 16 point, 10 rebound performance (both career highs) opening night at Nevada was the first double-double of her career. It also marked Fullerton's first double-double since Natalie Williams went for 11 points and 18 rebounds Feb. 16, 2012 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (also recorded career-highs in both points and rebounds). Butler's performance was actually the first time in 14 games a Titan player had recorded a double-double in a winning effort (Mya Olivier, 12 pts and 17 reb in a 67-58 over Cal State Bakersfield on 01/14/12).
My-oh-Mya
After suffering a season-ending injury early into the 2010-11 season, she rebounded in a positive manner last year, finishing as the team's leading rebounder (7.4 rpg) and second on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg) in addition to earning a Big West Honorable Mention...Olivier started her first game of the season Nov. 23 vs. Georgetown.
Breaking Down the Titans
Cal State Fullerton returns two starters and seven letterwinners overall from last season's squad that finished 11-19 overall and 4-12 in the Big West Conference, good enough for eighth place. The Titans were the No. 8 seed in last year's conference tournament, falling to top-seeded Cal Poly in the opening round for a second consecutive season, 71-53.
A new era of Fullerton basketball begins after the team says goodbye to two of the 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 2012 All-Big West honorable mention Mya Olivier who returns as the team's leading rebounder (7.4 rpg) from a season ago. Twenty-six game starter Kathleen Iwuoha also returns looking to build off a solid freshman campaign where she averaged 5.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Straight From the Coach's Mouth
Be sure to visit www.fullertontitans.com and click on the women's basketball page to watch the 2012-13 women's basketball preview video featuring head coach Marcia Foster.
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 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.
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 team listed seven players taller than 6-foot.
Tourney Tested
The Titans will face a schedule loaded with postseason participants in 2011-12 as they will face three (with a fourth possible depending upon the outcome of the Cal Classic Nov. 23- 24th) NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago (Georgetown, Gonzaga, Big West rival UC Santa Barbara, and possibly California) as well as five WNIT teams from 2011-12 in Oregon State, Cal Poly, Cal State Northridge, Pacific, and UC Davis for a total of at least eight tournament teams. That matches the amount faced last season.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Cal State Fullerton boasts a rigorous 12-game non-conference schedule that includes one neutral contest against a team hovering near the AP preseason top 25 rankings in No. 33 Georgetown. Depending upon the outcome of the first game of the Cal Classic (Nov. 23- Nov. 24th) the Titans could also square off against No. 13 California in Berkeley. Seven of the Titans' 12 non-conference affairs will be played away from Titan Gym. Gonzaga is also ranked 29th in the USA Today preseason coaches poll (California 15th, Georgetown 30th).
California Dreamin'
All 14 players on the roster call California home. Twelve of the 14 players are from Southern California while two are from up north. All three assistant coaches completed their undergraduate degrees at Southern California institutions as well. (Lori Morris at San Diego, Jorge Cerna at San Diego State, and Monica Quan at Concordia)
Fullerton's Fountian of Youth
The Titans come into the 2012-13 season tied for the sixth youngest team in Division I basketball, with the team's average experience being one year per player. The program holds five freshman, five sophomores, three juniors (with one being a JC transfer in Brianna Barfield), and one senior. The Titans have lost three starters from last year's squad in senior Megan Richardson, senior Lauren Chow, and junior Alicya Crisp. Sophomore center Jasmine Grayson left the program as well
Aloha Hawai'i!
The Big West Conference welcomes the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team back to the league for its second stint as a Big West women's basketball participant. The Rainbow Wahine was a member of the Big West from 1984-1996.
Cal State Fullerton will play 18 conference games (one home, one away vs. Hawai'i added) instead of the traditional 16 games as has been done in years past. The Titans will still play 29 regular season games, two non-conference games have been subtracted. The top eight teams in the conference will still qualify for the Big West Tournament. San Diego State will return as the conference's 11th member, effective July 1, 2013.