FULLERTON, Calif. – Four Tigers reached double-digit points, but CSU Fullerton (4-2) kept an early lead for most of the contest to defeat Pacific (5-4), 80-66.
"You have to give Fullerton a lot of credit," Head Coach
Bradley Davis said. "They came out in the second half and made some shots. We did not start with the intensity we needed, we found it for a little bit, but we could not maintain it. You can see that in the missed layups and the three-point percentage. On the road, we must come in with more intensity."
Sophomore
Elizabeth Elliott recorded her second double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, which led the team. Sophomore
Anaya James scored 11 points and led the team with 36 minutes played and seven assists. Juniors
Cecilia Holmberg and
Liz Smith also reached double-figures, each scoring 10 points. Junior
Erica Adams had three steals to lead the team.
"She (Elliott) is getting a lot of defenses thrown at her, and it has been difficult to get comfortable and find a rhythm," Davis continued. In the first half, we rushed a little bit because they were throwing some pressure at us, and we were not looking for her. We finally got her established, and we got her scoring."
The Titans started the game out hot, scoring 19 points in the first quarter to take an early six-point lead heading into the second quarter. The Tigers outscored the Titans by five in the second quarter to keep the game at one heading into the half. The Pacific bench came up big in the first half, scoring 10 points while holding the CSU Fullerton bench to just four points.
The key to the second half for the Tigers was points in the paint, scoring 26 points in the paint while holding the Titans to just six points in the paint. The Tigers took an early lead in the third quarter thanks to six straight points from James. The Titans retook the lead with three minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Tigers were able to cut a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to just a single point but could not find the go-ahead basket. The Titans hit 14 of 16 free throws in the fourth quarter to win.
The Tigers are back on the road on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. as they take on Cal.
