COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT : Miller’s 10-for-10 Shooting Carries Fullerton

Louisiana Tech’s season hit the skids with five seconds remaining against Cal State Fullerton Wednesday night.

Trailing by two points in the first-round NCAA West Regional game, Louisiana Tech guard Sheila Ethridge drove into the front court, but when she pulled up for a shot, her right foot slid and she was called for traveling.

Titan forward Claudette Jackson was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and made both ends of a one-and-one with four seconds left to secure Fullerton’s 84-80 victory in Titan Gym.

Fullerton (25-7) will travel to Stanford Saturday night to play the defending national champion Cardinal (23-5) in a second-round game, with the winner advancing to the regional semifinals at Las Vegas. The Lady Techsters closed at 18-12.

Titan center Genia Miller, double-teamed most of the night, attempted 10 shots--nine under her average--but made all 10, plus eight of eight free throws, to score a game-high 28 points. Miller became only the second player in the 10-year NCAA women’s tournament history to shoot a perfect game while attempting at least 10 shots.

St. Joseph’s Terry Carmichael made 11 of 11 shots in a 1985 tournament game against North Carolina State.

Jackson added 16 points. Joey Ray had 14, making three of four three-pointers, and point guard Michelle Hennessey scored 13, nine above her average, for Fullerton. The Titans made 28 of 56 field-goal attempts and 25 of 29 free throws.

Ethridge scored 22 points but made only nine of 24 shots, and Annie Lockett added 16 for Louisiana Tech.

The Titans had pulled away from a 36-36 halftime tie, building a nine-point lead, 77-68, when Miller scored with 4:16 to go. But the Lady Techsters went on a 12-2 run to pull to within 79-78 with 1:57 left.

Ray made one of two free throws for an 80-78 lead, but Louisiana Tech missed three consecutive shots in an attempt to tie. Hennessey’s two foul shots with 24 seconds left made it 82-78, and Tech guard Nicole Collins’ driving basket with 18 seconds left made it 82-80.

Fullerton guard Heidi James missed the front end of a one-and-one with 11 seconds to go, but Ethridge’s slip with five seconds left ended Louisiana Tech’s chances.

Hennessey made the most of Louisiana Tech’s strategy to sag off her and double-team Miller. Left wide open most of the game, she made five of 11 outside shots.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Hennessey said of the strategy. “Nobody guards me anymore. It’s kind of embarrassing. But I’ve found spots on the floor that I’m comfortable shooting from, and if they’re going to leave me open, I’m going to take it.”