FULLERTON, Calif. – After a four-game road trip to start the year, Cal State Fullerton returned home to Titan Gym and defeated Pepperdine in its home opener 64-55 Monday night. With the win the Titans improve to 3-2 on the year.
Four Titans scored in double figures led by Gabi Vidmar who had a game-high and season-high 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting including 5-for-11 from three-point distance. Una Jovanovic (16), Ashlee Lewis (12) and Fujika Nimmo (12) all added double digit performances.
Fullerton's showed great ball movement to get open shots all game. The Titans recorded 14 assists on 23 made baskets.
.@fujika_n ���� @gabvidmar #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/cqEB4H8oz2
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) November 29, 2022
Vidmar opened the scoring for the Titans with a wide-open three on the opening possession of the game. She went on to score six points in the first half on two three-pointers to help the Titans get out to a 16-13 lead.
Not a bad first possession! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Cborc58FfW
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) November 29, 2022
Fullerton recorded five steals in the first quarter of action and eight in the first half as Vidmar forced four turnovers on her own. Vidmar finished the game with five steals bumping her average up to 4.6 per game which ranks first in the country.
The Titans went into the locker room at halftime with a 29-23 advantage. Aixchel Hernandez led the team with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting off the bench in the first half. Lewis and Jovanovic added six points in the first 20 minutes of action. Lewis would go on to score 12 points while grabbing 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.
Fullerton pulled away from the Waves in the third quarter as it outscored Pepperdine 25-15 which included a 9-0 run late in the quarter to build a 54-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Jovanovic was unguardable in the third, scoring eight points on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field.
Una getting the second half buckets going ��#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/xs2nlZDdTY
— Titans Women's Basketball (@FullertonWBB) November 29, 2022
Pepperdine outscored the Titans in the final frame but Fullerton maintained a healthy lead throughout the final 10 minutes to earn a win in its home opener.
The Titans are back in action next week as Pacific comes to Titan Gym Tuesday, Dec. 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT.
WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+ Titans fans can now watch every home event 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 Stadium. 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.
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