Nov. 10, 2007

Box Score

OREM, UT - Cal State Fullerton junior forward Toni Thomas narrowly missed a double-double with 23 points and nine rebounds, but a cold-shooting first half doomed the visiting Titans in an 89-69 loss to Utah Valley on Saturday afternoon in Orem, Utah.

Fullerton fell to 0-1 overall, losing its season opener for the third time in the last four seasons. The Wolverines improved to 2-0 overall on the year, getting a double-double from All-American Robyn Fairbanks (18 points, 11 rebounds) and 23 points from Julie McMurray.

Thomas hit on 7-of-14 from the field and was an almost perfect 9-of-10 from the free throw line to pace Fullerton's offense. She extended her double-digit scoring streak to 22 consecutive games dating back to last season.

It was Thomas' 51st career double digit scoring game in 61 career games and her 17th career 20-point game.

Sophomore guard Jasmine Scott added 11 points and five rebounds while freshman Lyndsey Grove added 11 points off the bench.

Utah Valley scored the first eight points of the game to jump out to the quick lead before back-to-back buckets by Thomas and Daviyonne Weathersby snapped the Titans' scoreless string.

However a 7-0 run by the Wolverines increased their lead to 11 points and they never looked back. Fullerton, which hit on just 9-of-31 (.290) from the field in the first half compared to 53 percent by Utah Valley, never got closer than nine points with eight minutes to play as UVU led by as many as 23 points in the opening period en route to a 51-30 halftime lead.

That advantage would grow to as many as 30 points midway through the second half before the Titans exploded for a 16-5 run over a five-minute span to bring the deficit back down to 19 points at 77-58 with 6:23 remaining.

It would be as close as Fullerton would get, however, as the Wolverines shot 47 percent from the floor for the game and capitalized inside with 44 points in the paint en route to the win.

Sandy Marvin added 18 points for Utah Valley and was joined in double figures by Rebekah Peterson, who added 10 points off the bench.

Cal State Fullerton returns home next weekend to host a pair of games at Titan Gym beginning on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 17) at 2 p.m. against San Jose State.