Box Score Irvine, Calif. -- A big second quarter helped Cal State Fullerton to a 66-53 victory over UC Irvine at the Bren Events Center Saturday afternoon.
The Titans, who snapped a 24-game losing streak, out-scored UCI 21-9 in the second quarter to create the separation it needed to win its first game since Nov. 17, 2015.
UCI led by 10 (20-10) with 8:26 remaining in the second quarter before Cal State Fullerton would out-score the Anteaters 39-15 to build a 49-35 advantage with 1:45 left in the third quarter.
UCI would try to rally on a 11-5 spurt, which included baskets by Irene Chavez, Tayla Jackson, Shereen Sutherland, Mokun Fajemisin and a three-pointer by Raelyn Cheung-Sutton to narrow the deficit to 49-56 with 4:24 to play. A pair of layups by Michelle Berry and two free throws by Portia Neale followed extending Fullerton's advantage back to 13 (62-49) at 2:27. The Anteaters would manage just two more baskets the rest of the game.
Mckenzie Piper, Andee Ritter and Tayla Jackson each had a team-best nine points for UC Irvine (4-22, 1-11). Raelyn Cheung Sutton added seven points, five assists and five rebounds, while Mokun Fajemisin recorded a team-best seven rebounds and five blocked shots to go with six points.
Cal State Fullerton (3-24, 1-12) had a trio of players in double-figure scoring led by Samantha Logan's double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. Michelle Berry totaled 15 points and Jade Vega's 13 points off the bench.
The Titans out-rebounded UCI 48-35 and went 14-26 from the line, while UCI was 9-14. Cal State Fullerton ended the game shooting 41.4 percent (24-58) from the floor and the Anteaters were 21-65 (32.2%).
The teams are now tied for the final spot in the Big West Tournament which begins Mar. 8 at the Bren Events Center.
UCI hits the road next week, traveling to UC Santa Barbara Thursday (Feb. 25) and Long Beach State Saturday (Feb. 27).
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