Cal State Northridge's Megan Ching hit the go-ahead basket with 3:23 remaining
in the second overtime, sparking a 9-2 Matador run and lifting Northridge
to an 80-74 double overtime win over host Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday
night in the Big West Conference opener for both teams.
The Titans fell to 1-7 overall and 0-1 in the Big West, and saw their
six-game winning streak over the Matadors snapped. Northridge improved
to 5-3 overall, 1-0 in league play, defeating Fullerton for the first
time since joining the Big West in 2001-02.
Fullerton led by as many as five points in the first overtime before a
three-pointer by Northridge's Ofa Tulikihihifo cut the deficit to two.
The Matadors then forced a second extra period when LaJoyce King hit two
clutch free throws with :07 remaining.
The two teams traded baskets to open the second overtime period before
Ching drove the lane and hit on her short jumper to give CSUN a 70-68
advantage.
That sparked the game-winning run for the Matadors as Tulikihihifo hit
her hext two shots and a three-point play by Krisztina Fuleki gave CSUN
a seven-point lead at 77-70 with :16 remaining to ice the game.
Fullerton was led by redshirt sophomore point guard Audrey Taylor, who
notched her first collegiate triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds,
and a school single-game record 15 assists. She was one of four Titans
in double figures, joined by Charlee Underwood (16 points), Cynthia Sorrell
(15), who also added 11 rebounds, and Meghann Keathley (12).
Northridge's Tulikihihifo led all players with 37 points on 13-of-20 shooting
and 16 rebounds. McCaa came off the bench to score 18 points in 26 minutes
of play. King grabbed 13 boards for the Matadors, who were still outrebounded,
52-51, for the game.
The Titans shot just under 36 percent from the floor for the game, but
saw their 36-23 halftime lead disappear after shooting just .273 from
the field in the second half. Fullerton led by as many as 17 points on
two occassions, but were outscored by the Matadors, 27-10, in the final
12:41 of regulation.
Northridge shot .583 from the floor combined in the two overtime periods.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Thursday (Dec. 30) as the Titans
play host to Pacific at 7 p.m.
