THE COLLEGES : Women’s Basketball : Pacific Edges Fullerton in PCAA Opener, 67-66

Gretchen Meinhardt scored 32 points to lead the University of the Pacific to a 67-66 victory Saturday over Cal State Fullerton in the women’s Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. basketball opener for both teams at Stockton.

Meinhardt, a senior from Edison High School, was 13 of 20 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. Meinhardt scored 18 points in the second half as Pacific (6-4, 1-0) overcame a 38-35 Fullerton halftime lead.

Fullerton had a chance to win the game in the final six seconds, but Gena Miller missed an eight-foot jumper. Miller finished with a career-high 10 points. Stacy Hunt scored 16 to lead Fullerton (5-5, 0-1). Amy Torczon (16 points) scored on a layup with 23 seconds left for Fullerton to cut the Pacific lead to 67-66.

Pacific turned over the ball with 17 seconds left to allow Fullerton its final chance.

In other PCAA play:

Cal State Long Beach 91, UC Irvine 61--Traci Waites scored 29 points and Penny Toler 20 to lead 11th-ranked Long Beach (4-3, 1-0) in the PCAA opener for both teams at Irvine.

It was Waites’ first game for Long Beach after transferring from Georgia in 1986.

Natalie Crawford tied her career high with 28 points and added 13 rebounds for Irvine (2-7, 0-1). Cheryl Eiland scored 11 points and had 11 rebounds for the Anteaters.