FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton women's basketball defeated UC Riverside by a final score of 57-55 Saturday evening at Titans Gym. The Titans improve to 8-9 and 2-4 in conference.
The game came down to the wire. UC Riverside was at the free-throw line shooting two with a chance to take the lead, however, they missed both free throws and were forced to foul the Titans. Clarissa Rodarte then hit one of two at the line to put the Titans up by two and the Highlanders were unable to get a shot off in the final seconds.
Lily Wahinekapu once again came up clutch in crunch time for the Titans. With under five minutes left in the game she drilled a three-pointer to put the Titans up 11. Late in the game with Fullerton up three points and just under one minute remaining, Wahinekapu beat a double-team and drove to the rim, putting the Titans up six.
Big time players make big time plays. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/NkBfJUsYQR
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) January 30, 2022
Wahinekapu always finds a way to get it done! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/JmTKxb7H9N
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) January 30, 2022
Wahinekapu led the team with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting while adding four assists and three rebounds. Ashlee Lewis neared a double-double in the game, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds.
UC Riverside's Jada Holland scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor. Matehya Bryant added 14 points for the Highlanders to go along with 11 rebounds.
Fullerton got off to a slow start, with the team trailing 12-3 early in the game Aixchel Hernandez got the teams' offense going with a smooth turn-around jumper. The Titans offense picked up from there, trailing 12-7, Una Jovanovic drilled a three-pointer to make it just a two-points game. Fullerton ended the first quarter on a 11-4 run as they trailed 12-13 heading into the second quarter.
Nothing the defense can do to stop that! @aixchelha #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Kp1pH18IQ8
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) January 30, 2022
Wahinekapu capped off the Titans 11-4 run with a floater in the lane to tie the game at 12 just before the end of the quarter.
Lily with a smooth floater! Titans on a 11-2 run. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/eBBdiGSA8p
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) January 30, 2022
Gabi Vidmar got her offense going in the second quarter, giving the Titans their first lead of the game with a three-pointer to make it 17-15.
Titans take the lead on a @gabvidmar three! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/kIjIsBhSZM
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) January 30, 2022
Vidmar later scored on a wide open layup after Fullerton's perfect ball move. Vidmar and Wahinekapu both ended the first half with seven points each.
Beautiful offense ��#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/p4livw6FcW
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) January 30, 2022
Fullerton looks to carry its momentum on the road after winning back-to-back games at Titan Gym. The Titans head to Cal Poly next Thursday to face the Mustangs at 7:00 p.m. before traveling to CSU Bakersfield on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off.
WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch every home basketball game exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for all games at Titan Gym which will also lead into baseball and softball games. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), and Instagram (FullertonTitans). In addition, the basketball team has established its own Twitter (@FullertonWBB) and Instagram accounts (@FullertonWBB).
