Big West Women’s Tournament : Fullerton Keeps Edge Over SDSU : Titans Win, 68-60, to Build Winning Streak to Six Against Aztecs

Cal State Fullerton, which had beaten the San Diego State women’s basketball team five times in a row, did it again Thursday, eliminating the Aztecs from the Big West Conference tournament with a 68-60 victory in the Long Beach Arena.

Fullerton (21-7) will play top-seeded Cal State Long Beach at 4 p.m. today.

“I am proud of our team’s accomplishments today and during the season,” Fullerton Coach Maryalyce Jeremiah said. “We’ve done far more than I ever expected. . . . We have established ourselves by beating San Diego State three times this season. We hope now to be invited to the NCAA tournament. We’d like to get in by winning the Big West Conference tournament, but if not, hopefully they well invite us by what we have done all season long.”

One of the Titans’ victories over San Diego State this season was tainted because the Aztecs’ star center, Chana Perry, did not play.

But Fullerton beat San Diego State Thursday for the third time this season and the sixth time in a row, and Perry played all but 4 minutes of the game.

Perry was not at her best, however. She made only four of 17 shots, finishing with 10 points.

“She is a great player,” said Gena Miller, the Titans’ center. “She seemed healthy today, but just didn’t have one of her better games. We all have our bad days and games.”

The Titans, who made 13 of 25 shots (52%) in the first half, jumped to leads of 7-0, 17-4 and 31-16 and led by 10 at halftime.

San Diego State (23-8) never led.

Three Fullerton players--Kathy Werth, Miller and Sheryl Jones--played the entire game.

Werth led the Titans with 22 points, making eight of 13 shots and six of seven free throws. Miller added 19 on seven-of-11 shooting.