MORAGA, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton had a chance to win the game as Samantha Logan shot a potential game-winning three-pointer as time expired, but the ball fell short of the rim as the Titans dropped a 59-58 heartbreaker to Toledo Friday afternoon at McKeon Pavilion during game one of the Saint Mary's Hilton Concord Classic.
The Titans gained the lead in the final minute after Logan nailed a three-pointer with 42 seconds remaining, to give Fullerton a 58-57 advantage. However, after a Toledo (3-2) timeout, junior forward Inma Zanoguera knocked down a mid-range jumper to give the Rockets what proved to be the game-winning shot.
The Titans trailed by as many as eight points in the second half, but Fullerton (1-4) slowly chipped away, and after an 11-0 run with 7:15 left to play in the game, the Titans took their first lead of the game since the 13:44 mark of the first half after Chante Miles hit a corner trey to give the Titans a 47-44 lead.
Miles led the Titans in scoring, pouring in 15 points, while Logan finished with her first career double-double after scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
The Rockets' Zanoguera led all Toledo scorers with 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. Center Brianna Jones and guard Janelle Reed-Lewis also recorded double figures in the scoring column after adding 14 and 10 points, respectively.
The Titans and Rockets traded baskets at the beginning of the game, but after a Elena De Alfredo three-pointer with 13:44 left in the first half, Toledo held the lead for most of the game. In the last five minutes Fullerton and Toledo traded baskets, but Toledo's late jumper was good enough to hold on.
The Titans finished the day shooting 35.7 percent (25-of-70) from the floor and 28.6 percent from three-point range. Toledo shot 34.8 percent (24-of-69) from the floor and 21 percent from behind the arc. Fullerton was outrebounded 48-45.
The Titans will look to rebound tomorrow in game two of the Hilton Concord Classic as they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide at 12 p.m. at McKeon Pavilion.
Notes: This was the first meeting between the two programs…Toledo now leads the all-time series 1-0… the Titans are 0-4 all-time against opponents from the Mid-American Conference…today's contest was the first time Fullerton has played in the Hilton Concord Classic hosted by Saint Mary's…the Titans are now 2-4 in their last six neutral location games… the Titans have trailed at the half in 4 of their first 5 games this season…Samantha Logan records her first career double-double and first since Kathleen Iwuoha had 15 points and 13 rebounds against Pacific on March 15, 2013…Fullerton had four double-doubles during the 2012-13 season…Chante Miles has had double digit scoring efforts in all five games this season...the 11 rebounds by Logan are the most by a Titan player this season…Miles also posted a career-high eight assists