“We played a very good first half and we executed well, but they came out early in the second half, hit a couple three’s, and we weren’t disciplined defensively,” said head coach Joan Bonvicini. “We didn’t score as much [in the second half] but really it was on the defensive end, and we didn’t rebound well. You have to hand it to them – they hit some big shots and played aggressively.”
The Redhawks winning the opening tip, Kaylee Best (Seattle, Wash.) scored first on a jumper just 11 seconds into the contest before SU opened up a 10-2 lead through the first media timeout.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Chante Miles brought Cal State Fullerton within four, 12-8, with 14 minutes before the half but Seattle U would take their first double digit lead, 19-9, halfway through the opening period on an Alexis Montgomery (Beaverton, Ore.) three-pointer.
After nearly three scoreless minutes for either team, Tailer Butler responded with a three for the Titans but Claire Metoyer (Desoto, Texas) would answer with a three to put the Redhawks back ahead by eight, 22-14, with 5:55 remaining before half.
Crystal Allen (Fort Worth, Texas) hit a three at the aptly-timed three-minute mark to give Seattle U a double digit lead once again, which they would carry through the halftime break, leading by 15 at half.
Miles scored five straight for the Titans coming out of half as part of a 11-2 early second half run to put CSUF down by just six, 37-31, with 16:45 remaining.
Best knocked down a three before Allen went 4-for-4 in two trips to the free throw line to put the Redhawks back ahead by 13 two minutes later. Miles would again respond for Cal St. Fullerton with a layup and three-pointer to cut their deficit to eight at 13:16.
The Titans trailing again by eight two minutes later, Hailey King converted on a key three-point play to cut the margin to five two different times in a two minute span. King and Miles hit back-to-back baskets to bring CSUF within just one, 49-48, with 6:31 remaining. On the overall 15-5 run, King and Miles accounted for 13 of the Titans’ 15 points. King would hit a key three-pointer at 6:08 to give Cal St. Fullerton their first lead, which they would keep for good.
Best hit a pair of free throws at 5:07 and Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) drove in a layup a minute and a half later to tie the game at 51 and 53, respectively, but the Titans would close with a 13-6 run, not allowing the Redhawks to get closer than five in the final two minutes of the contest.
Best and Allen led the Redhawks with 13 points apiece, while Wilma Afunugo (Plano, Texas) grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, leading an SU team in boards who outrebounded their opponent, 44-35.
SU led in all three major shooting categories, shooting 37 percent (20-for-54) from the field to the Titans’ 34.5 percent (20-for-58) as well as 36.8 percent (7-for-19) from behind the arc to Fullerton’s 29.4 percent (10-for-34). From the free-throw line, SU shot 75 percent (12-for-16) while CSUF shot 61.5 percent (16-for-26).
Seattle U has a week off from competition before opening Western Athletic Conference play vs. Utah Valley on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 4 p.m. Stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com as well as Facebook (Seattle University Women’s Basketball; Seattle U Athletics), Twitter (@su_wbb; @su_athletics), and Instagram (su_redhawks; su_wbb) for all the latest updates on the team.