FULLERTON, Calif. – For the first time since 1991 Cal State Fullerton women's basketball defeated San Diego State, earning a 60-56 victory Tuesday night at Titan Gym. With the win the Titans end the Aztecs 11-game winning streak while improving to 2-1 on the year.
After San Diego State got off to a 9-0 run to start the game, the Titans responded with a 15-2 run of their own to end the first quarter. Wahinekapu made a great play to end the quarter for the Titans, picking the Aztecs pocket and going coast-to-coast for the last second layup.
Wahinekapu went on to lead the Titans with a career-high 24 points on 9-of-16 from the floor with five boards and four assists. Through three games she is averaging 19 points per game.
Fullerton continued that run into the second half, going on a 21-2 run midway into the second to extend its lead to 21-11. The Titans defense shutdown the Aztecs for the remainder of the first half, giving up just five points in the second quarter and holding San Diego State to just seven points in the last 14 minutes of the half. The Titans defense held SDSU shooting to just 30.6% (19-62) for the game.
The Titans led San Diego State 30-16 at the break with help from Aixchel Hernandez's 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from the field to go along with eight rebounds. Wahinekapu added nine points with four points and four assists in the first half of action.
Wahinekapu came out of the locker room in the second half on fire, scoring nine points in the first three minutes of the third quarter to put the Titans up 39-20. She ended up out scoring the Aztecs by herself 13-to-12 in the quarter.
After holding a 47-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter, San Diego State found a way to get themselves back in the game. After outscoring the Aztecs in the previous three quarters, SDSU outscored the Titans 28-13 in the fourth quarter. The Aztecs got the Titans into foul trouble and were in the double bonus with 4:37 left to play. The Aztecs' full court press allowed San Diego State to make the final box score much closer than how the actual game went.
Fullerton heads back on the road to face Air Force Saturday, Nov. 20 at 12:00 p.m. PT.