Cal State Fullerton Notes 
| UC Irvine Notes (HTML)
FULLERTON, Calif.-- Hovering just one game out of the final Big West Tournament slot, Cal State Fullerton (7-16, 3-8 Big West) will try and reclaim its winning mojo Saturday, when it hits the road to take on UC Irvine at the Bren Events Center at 5 p.m.
There will be a live video feed available for Cal State Fullerton's game at UC Irvine. To access video for the game visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "video" link to watch through BigWest.TV.
There will be live audio streaming available for Cal State Fullerton's game at UC Irvine. To access audio for the game visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "audio" link. Patrick Alog will be providing play-by-play, while Gurajpalpreet Sangha will serve as the color commentator.
There will be live stats available for Cal State Fullerton's game at UC Irvine. To access live stats for the game visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "live stats" link.
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A Look at the Series...
Cal State Fullerton (7-16) vs. UC Irvine (7-17)
Overall Record 33-33
Home Record 18-12
Away Record 12-19
Neutral Site Record 3-2
Longest Win Streak 9 games
Longest Losing Streak 14 games
Current Streak Loss 2
Record in Last 10 Meetings 7-3
First Meeting
Nov. 21, 1980 at Irvine (L, 73-62)
Last Meeting
Jan.17, 2013 (W, 65-51)
Last Meeting in Irvine
Jan. 18, 2012 (L, 73-68)
Series Notes: Last time these two schools met, guards Annie Park and Alex Thomas led the Titans to a convincing 65-51 victory over UC Irvine. Thomas scored 18 points while Park scored 13 in her first ever collegiate start...Fullerton's largest margin of victory came Jan. 3, 2009 in a 76-49 (27 points) win over UCI at Titan Gym...CSF's largest margin of defeat came on Jan. 27, 2001 in an 84-46 (38 points) loss at Titan Gym...Fullerton has dropped four consecutive games in Irvine....Five of Fullerton's last six losses overall to UCI have come by eight points or less...the Titans have averaged nearly 71 points per game over their last 16 contests vs. UCI. Fullerton has only scored less than 60 points twice during that span.
Analyzing the Anteaters
UC Irvine (7-17, 3-9 Big West) limps into the matchup sitting in the cellar of the conference, but winners of three of its last four games. The Anteaters are led by junior forward Camille Buckley, who nearly averages a double-double per game. Her 11.2 points and nine rebounds per game lead the team. Junior guard Jennifer Tsurumoto is the only other Anteater to average double figures in the scoring column. She puts in 10.8 points per contest....UC Irvine averages 55.6 points per contest, while it surrenders 63.1 points per game. The 55.6 points per game is the second lowest in the conference and 288th in the nation...the Titans and Anteaters only shared one non-conference opponent. Both squads lost to Nevada...UC Irvine was picked to finish ninth in the conference's preseason poll.
Last Time Out For the Titans
Cal State Fullerton had a chance to win the game, as Annie Park heaved up a half-court shot as time expired, but the ball fell just short of the rim and the Titans dropped a 58-56 heartbreaker to Long Beach State Thursday night at Titan Gym.
The Titans trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second half, but Fullerton slowly chipped away, converting on every one of its final 10 free throw attempts.
Alex Thomas nailed a three-pointer from the right side with 27 second left to play to bring the Titans within 57-56. Katheen Iwuoha then gave Fullerton a very real chance to win the game, as she stole the ensuing Long Beach State inbounds pass.
With three seconds left in the game, Chante Miles drove down the lane and put up a shot in traffic, but was called for an offensive foul to essentially decide the game for the Titans.
For Fullerton (7-16, 3-8 Big West), it's now its fourth straight home loss and seventh consecutive defeat overall. Conversely for Long Beach State (13-11, 6-6 Big West), the win marks its second straight after dropping its pervious three games.
Annie Park and Alex Thomas led the Titans in scoring, pouring in 12 points each while Chante Miles finished in double figures for the first time since Jan. 5 vs. Cal State Northridge, as she recorded 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
The 49ers' Alex Sanchez led all scorers with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. Ella Clark was the only other 49er to record double figures in the scoring column, while she collected 10 points and three rebounds.
It was truly a tale of two halves for the Titans, as they shot 5-for-27 in the first half for 18.5 percent, only to turn around in the second half and connect on 11-of-23 field goal attempts for 47.8 percent. It was the same story at the free throw line, as Fullerton went just 3-of-9 for 33.3 percent in the first half, only to respond by knocking down 15-of-21 free throws for 71.4 percent after halftime.
The 49ers had just a little much offensively Thursday, as they shot 47.2 percent from the field and converted on 21-of-29 free throws for 72.4 percent on the night.
#MOtivation
The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team will play the remainder of the 2012-13 season without assistant coach Monica Quan after her life was taken on Feb. 3, 2013. Quan was a loved and valued member of the Titan athletic family. She will be deeply missed.
"A really bright light was put out way too soon — someone whose passion was impacting young women with the game of basketball. As an assistant, she was someone I counted on to tell me the truth. I loved that about her; I loved her work ethic and her passion for life. We are going to have some work to do because too many young women have been affected by this," said head coach Marcia Foster on the passing.
Feeling the Love
The crowd of 495 at Titan Gym last Saturday was the largest crowd for a Cal State Fullerton women's basketball home game since the gym held 590 on Nov. 30, 2007 vs. USC.
Stop the Streaking!
The Titans have now dropped seven straight games with their last win coming on Jan. 17 vs. UC Irvine. This is the Titans' second losing streak that has reached seven games or more this season. It's the first time Fullerton has had two separate losing skids this long since the Titans had two separate losing streaks of nine and seven games during the 2001-02 season.
Miles Giving More
Thursday night's 10-point performance vs. Long Beach State snapped a what was a six-game streak without recording a double-figure scoring game for Titan leading-scorer Chante Miles. The Titans are 0-8 this season when Miles fails to score in double figures.
Time to Take Back the Gym
Cal State Fullerton's last four home games have been uncharacteristic to say the least. It's dropped its last three home games by a combined 77 points and by an average of 19.3 points per game. Before the four-game home slide, Fullerton was 6-2 at home this season, with both losses coming by a combined two points...Six of seven wins this season have come at Titan Gym...nearly 69 percent of the Titans' total wins since the 2005-06 season have come at home.
Category First 8 Home Games/ Last 4 Home Games
Average Points Per Game 66.5 ppg 50.0 ppg
Average Points Against 59.3 ppg 69.3 ppg
Field Goal Percentage 36.7% 28.4%
Average Turnovers Per Game 17.1 18.4
Average Turnovers Forced 19.3 15.9
More Threes Please
Through 10 conference games Annie Park leads the Big West in three-point percentage, as she's connected on 16-of-33 treys for 48.5 percent thus far in league play. She also ranks eighth in three-pointers made per game in Big West play, as she averages 1.6 makes per contest....the five three pointers she connected on last Saturday vs. UC Riverside were the second most a Titan has made this season (Tailer Butler seven threes made Jan. 3 vs. Hawai'i)...Park's 17 points scored and five treys made also set new career highs. She's led the Titans in scoring in two straight games.
Bushong's Block Party
With her one block Thursday night vs. Long Beach State, Lauren Bushong now ranks third on Cal State Fullerton's all-time blocks list with 68 career blocks.
Riding the Hot Hand
Chante Miles led the Titans in scoring in eight of the first 12 games to start the season. However, over the past 11 contests, six different Titans have led the team in scoring (Tailer Butler 27 points vs. Hawai'i, Chante Miles 11 points vs. Cal State Northridge, Lauren Bushong 14 points at UC Riverside, Alex Thomas 18 points vs. UC Irvine, Alex Thomas 20 points at Long Beach State, Alex Thomas 9 points vs. UC Davis, Brianna Barfield 12 points vs. Pacific, Annie Park 8 points at Cal Poly, Lauren Bushong 11 points at UC Santa Barbara, Annie Park 17 vs. UC Riverside, Annie Park and Alex Thomas with 12 vs. Long Beach State). Alex Thomas, Annie Park and Chante Miles are the only Titans to have led the team in scoring in back-to-back games this year.
Feeling Homesick
Fullerton has dropped 17 of its last 18 road games and 10 of its last 11 Big West road games going back to last season...the Titans are 1-10 away from Titan Gym this season. It's the worst 11-game start away from home since the 2005-06 season when Fullerton lost its first 11 games away from home.
Category Home games Road/ Neutral site games
Average Points Per Game 61.5 ppg 49.7 ppg
Average Points Against 63.0 ppg 62.3 ppg
Field Goal Percentage 34.6% 27.9%
The Amazing Alex
Alex Thomas leads the Titans in scoring during Big West play, averaging 10.4 points per game. She's scored in double-figures in four of her last nine games after posting just three double-figure scoring contests in the 14 games previous.
All About Getting Better
Fullerton finished 4-12 in the Big West last season. The Titans already have three conference wins with still seven league games to play.
What's Trending
The Titans have had more offensive rebounds than the opponent in 19 of 23 games this season...Fullerton has been outscored in the paint in 17 of its last 21 games...the Titans have had at least two double-figure scorers in nine of their last 13 games...Titans have won the second-chance points battle in 11 out of their last 13 games.
Is There a Lid on This Thing?
Over the course of the season, Cal State Fullerton has had field goal droughts of eight minutes or more 10 separate times in 10 different games. The Titans are 2-8 in those games....Six of them have been 10+ minute droughts. The Titans are 1-5 in those games. (8:15 vs. Eastern Washington, 8:28 at New Mexico, 10:48 at Gonzaga, 8:44 at Oregon State, 10:26 vs. Columbia, 12:56 vs. Cal State Northridge, 9:55 at UC Riverside, 13:52 at Long Beach State, 11:21 vs. UC Davis, and 10:25 at UC Santa Barbara)
Heartbreak City
Ten of 23 games this season have been decided by six points or less. Fullerton is just 3-7 in those contests...Five games have been decided by two points or less, the Titans are 1-4 in those games...in the six losses, Fullerton either had the lead, was tied, or was within one possession with under three minutes to play...at one point this season the Titans were 2-5 but still didn't have a negative point differential (449-449).
Living Pretty in the 60's
The Titans are 6-2 when scoring 60+ points this season, compared to a 1-13 mark when scoring under 60 points...Fullerton is 4-0 when scoring between 60 and 65 points this season...the Titans are also 4-0 when shooting between 40-49.9 percent this season.
Finding the Right Mix
Cal State Fullerton has used 12 different starting lineups and has only sent out the same starting five in consecutive games three times this season...No Titan has started in every game this season.
Miles Ahead of the Rest
Chante Miles has scored in double-figures in 13 of her first 21 games played to start the season...Miles has scored 17+ points in six of 21 games played this season...Miles currently leads the Titans in scoring (10.7 ppg), total points (224), field goals made (77), assists (3.2 apg), steals (2.2 spg), and minutes (31.3 mpg).
Cleaning Up the Mess
Kathleen Iwuoha is making her presence felt on the glass this season. She currently leads the team in overall rebounding (7.0 rpg), offensive rebounding (3.2 rpg), and defensive rebounding (3.8 rpg). Her overall rebounding ranks ninth in the conference while her offensive rebounding ranks fifth.
Recycled Notes
Tailoring Greatness
Tailer Butler's 27 points scored on Jan. 3 vs. Hawai'i was the most by any Titan since Megan Richardson also posted 27 points Dec. 12, 2011 vs. San Jose State...Butler's 27 points were also the most points any Titan had produced off the bench since Lauren Chow scored 28 points Nov. 17, 2007.
Titans Ink Four Recruits for 2012-13
Head coach Marcia Foster announced on Nov. 19 that four high school seniors have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Cal State Fullerton. Casey Williams, Chelsea Waddy, Samantha Logan, and Priscilla Brooks' four years of eligibility will start at the beginning of the 2013-14 academic school year.
"This is very strong class with great students and overall just great people," Foster said. "They all fit into our mold of being a hard-working bunch. We look for blue-collar kids with talent and that's what we have in this class. I expect all of these kids to be able to contribute right away next year."
All four recruits played at California high schools and are expected to play high school basketball their senior years.
Casey Williams • G • 5-8 • Sacramento High School, Calif.
Averaged 7.6 points, 2.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game as a junior at Sacramento High School…Is a one-year varsity letter winner…Recorded a career-high 15 points vs. Modesto Christian High School on Dec. 30, 2011…Grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds vs. Kennedy High School Feb. 2, 2012…Helped lead the Dragons to a 27-7 overall record and a 14-0 league mark in 2011-12…Sacramento advanced to the CIF Division III semifinals, beating San Marin 72-34 in round two before eventually falling to Miramonte 71-64.
Chelsea Waddy • F/C • 6-1 • Rialto Carter High School, Calif.
Averaged 12.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game as a junior at Rialto Carter High School…Is a three-year varsity letter winner…Put up 18 double-digit scoring outings as a junior…Recorded 21 double-digit rebounding performances last season, including 10 consecutive 10+ rebound games from Nov. 30- Dec. 29, 2011…Led her team in points per game (12.9), total points (336), field goals made (114), Free throws made (104), free throws attempted (151), blocked shots per game (3.4), total blocked shots (89), rebounds per game (12.2), and total rebounds (317) last season.
Samantha Logan • G/F • 5-9 • Centennial High School, Calif.
Averaged 7.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.2 steals per game as a junior at Centennial High School...Is a three-year varsity letter winner...Led Centennial in rebounds per game (9.2) and total rebounds (240) last season…Put up 23 points (career high) and 16 rebounds Dec. 3, 2011 vs. Rialto High School…Recorded a career-high 25 rebounds Feb. 19, 2011 vs. California High School her sophomore year… Helped lead the Huskies to a CIF Division-I playoff birth both her sophomore and junior years, including a quarterfinal appearance two seasons ago.
Other Notes: Her father, Matt Logan is currently the head coach of Centennial High School's football team. Samantha played in one of Centennial's football games last October. She suited up at quarterback and completed a pass vs. Roosevelt High School in Centennial's annual "Pink Game" (The purpose of wearing pink was to raise awareness for breast cancer). Both her and the receiver she completed the pass to lost their mothers due to breast cancer. She has a goal of becoming the first ever female in California to throw a high school touchdown pass.
Priscilla Brooks • C/F • 5-10 • JW North High School, Calif.
Averaged 15.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.7 steals as a junior at JW North High School…Is a one-year varsity letter winner… Recorded 26 double-digit scoring performances, including a streak 15 consecutive double-digit games…Pulled down double-digit rebounds 13 times last season…Recorded a career-high 26 rebounds March 10, 2012 vs. Monache High School…Put in a career-high 30 points Feb. 1, 2012 vs. Roosevelt High School…Helped lead JW North to a 31-6 overall record, 12-2 league mark, and a trip to the CIF Division-II championship game after the school totaled just four wins (one league win) a year ago.
2012-13 Tip-Off Fundraiser a Success
The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team hosted over 100 fans and raised money for the program at the team's third-annual Tip-Off Party and Fundraiser last Saturday night at the Student Pavilion on campus.
"It was a great evening and we really thank everyone who came out to support us," said head coach Marcia Foster. "We can't wait to make everyone proud."
The evening consisted of a raffle drawing, silent auction, fun dancing, and great food.
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.
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.
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 were members 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.