Idaho used a 12-2 run midway through the second half and then held off
a frantic late rally by host Cal State Fullerton as the Vandals emerged
with a 72-68 victory over the Titans on Saturday night at Titan Gym.
Fullerton fell to 2-13 overall and 1-6 in the Big West while the Vandals
improved to 10-6 overall, 5-2 in league play.
Trailing by 14 points with just under seven minutes remaining in the game,
the Titans exploded for a 12-1 run – 10 of those 12 points by the
Titan backcourt of Audrey Taylor and Andrea Adams – to close to
within three points at 68-65 with 3:26 remaining.
However, the Vandals hit four free throws down the stretch to ice the
game.
In a game that featured eight ties and four lead changes, Fullerton stayed
close in the first half, trailing by as many as seven points twice, but
using an 8-0 run for its first lead of the game with 9:13 remaining and
a 9-4 run to close out the first period to trail by only two at 37-35
at halftime.
Both teams traded baskets to open the second period and the Titans took
their largest lead of the game at 42-39 on a three-pointer by Adams just
under four minutes into the second period.
The Titans stayed within five points for the next five minutes, but a
late surge by Idaho gave the Vandals a 12-point lead and they never looked
back.
Cal State Fullerton was led by Adams, who had a team-high 24 points, including
five three-pointers. Senior Melanie Mosley tallied her second consecutive
double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds, and Taylor finished with
10 points.
Idaho was led by Emily Faurholt, who had a game-high 32 points and led
two others in double figures: Leilani Mitchell (17) and Heather Thoelke
(15).
Fullerton shot 41 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Vandals
48-29. Idaho shot 49 percent from the field.
The Titans return to action next week as they head to the Central Coast
to take on Cal Poly (Jan. 27) and UC Santa Barbara (Jan. 29).
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