MORAGA, Calif.- Cal State Fullerton received a second straight double-double performance from Samantha Logan Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough as Alabama defeated the Titans 69-54 at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, Calif., in the final game of the Saint Mary's Hilton Concord Classic.
Logan finished with a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds on 6-of-14 shooting from the field, while connecting on five three-pointers. The Corona, Calif., native, who was named to the all-tournament team, has now recorded a double-double in back-to-back games. Junior guard Chante Miles added 10 points, while dishing out seven assists for Fullerton (1-5).
Alabama (3-4) was led by Shafontaye Myers as she posted a double-figuring scoring effort with 15 points. Nikki Hegstetter also added 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Daisha Simmons posted an impressive line of 12 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds in the victory.
The Titans reached intermission trailing 27-26 after trading baskets with the Crimson tide in the first half. Fullerton and Alabama came out of the gates continuing to counter each other attacks, but with less than 12 minutes remaining in the game and both teams locked in at 42 apiece, Alabama went on a 7-0 run to stretch their advantage to 49-42.
After a team timeout, Fullerton got as close as 49-45 with 7:51 left, after Logan knocked down a three-pointer. However, the Titans would get no closer than that as the Crimson Tide would go on a 20-9 run to end the game.
Fullerton shot 34 in the second half, but could not overcome a slow start in the opening period en route to shooting just 32.3 percent for the game. Alabama outrebounded the Titans, 44-38, and forced 13 Fullerton turnovers. The Crimson Tide shot 43 percent from the floor, including a 45 percent in the second half, as they pulled away from the Titans.
Cal State Fullerton will look to bounce back at home next Wednesday, Dec. 4 as they take on the San Diego Toreros at 7 p.m. at Titan Gym.
Notes: With the Alabama victory, the Titans and Crimson Tide now even up the all-time series 1-1…Fullerton and Alabama previously met in Las Vegas, Nev., in 1984 at the UNLV 7-up Desert Classic with the Titans taking the victory 65-64… the Titans are now 3-4 all-time against Southeastern Conference (SEC) foes… the Titans are now 0-2 in neutral location games this season and 2-5 in the past two seasons… the Titans have trailed at the half in five of their six games this season…the Titans finished 0-2 at the SMC Hilton Concord Classic and record their first victory in Moraga, Calif., since 2007… Samantha Logan earned her first career start and records her second straight double-double…Chante Miles has had double digit scoring efforts in all five games this season…the Titans had two players with double-digit rebounds for the first time this season (Natalie Williams, 10)…Kathleen Iwuoha did not play.