Jan. 21, 2006
IRVINE, CA -
Cal State Fullerton senior forward Amber Pruitt scored a game-high 19 points, but it wasn't enough to offset four UC Irvine starters in double figures as the host Anteaters defeated the Titans, 73-66, on Saturday afternoon at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif.
Fullerton fell to 5-12 overall, 3-4 in the Big West Conference. The Titans fell to 0-11 away from Titan Gym this season and have lost 12 straight away from home dating back to 2004-05. UC Irvine improved to 4-14 overall and 2-4 in league play.
Pruitt was 6-of-16 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds. She was joined in double figures by freshman Toni Thomas, who added 13 points in a losing effort.
The Anteaters were led by freshman Kelly Cochran's first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds and was joined in the team scoring lead by Angie Ned, who also finished with 16 points and addded eight rebounds.
UCI's Stephanie Duda and Annie Mai both added 12 points apiece in the victory.
The Titans trailed by only three points at 67-64 with 1:36 remaining thanks to a 12-2 run, capped by three pointers from Pruitt and Andrea Adams, that brought them back from 13 points down with just over three minutes remaining.
However, Duda answered with a basket after Adams' three to make it a five-point advantage for the Anteaters and UCI hit 4-of-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to seal the win.
Fullerton trailed by six at the break, 30-24, as the Titans shot just 30 percent in the first half. Cal State Fullerton trailed by as many as 12 points in the period, but closed the half on a 6-0 run thanks to a pair of baskets by Thomas, who had 11 of the Titans' 24 points in the period, and two free throws from Pruitt.
UC Irvine held a dominating advantage in the paint, outrebounding Fullerton, 46-33, including 19 offensive boards that led to 21 second chance points for the Anteaters and eight blocks - four of those by Cochran.
Cal State Fullerton takes a break from Big West Conference play next weekend as the Titans host Utah Valley State at 7 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 26) and future conference rival UC Davis on Saturday at 2 p.m. (Jan. 28) at Titan Gym.