COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Titan Women Defeat UC Irvine Despite Numerous Late Errors

The Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball team led by as many as 18 points in its 74-61 Big West Conference victory over UC Irvine Thursday in the Bren Center. The Anteaters have lost 13 consecutive games.

But with a little more than three minutes remaining, Irvine was as close as seven, 68-61, after a basket by Felicia Dixon. The Anteaters (4-18, 0-13) got no closer, but it was more because of their ineptitude than Fullerton’s resistance. Irvine missed four shots on one trip downcourt, unable to score despite getting the ball back twice on Fullerton mistakes.

Among Fullerton’s other errors were three missed free throws in the final 1:46, an unforced turnover and a shot-clock violation with 10 seconds left.

Despite errors down the stretch, Fullerton (10-11, 5-7) still won by 13 points. Fullerton Coach Maryalyce Jeremiah praised her team’s balanced scoring after the Titans broke a two-game losing streak.

“The thing we’ve been trying to get our kids to understand is that the only way for us to win is if we work the ball and take good shots,” she said.

Freshman Kisa Hughes had 21 points and 15 rebounds. Claudette Jackson had 19 points and Joey Ray scored 18 points in her first game back after serving a two-game disciplinary suspension.

Irvine’s Yvonne Catala scored a season-high 28 points, making 14 of 23 shots, as she started for the first time in eight games.

In other women’s basketball:

Point Loma Nazarene 91, Southern California College 61--Rochelle Lightner had 21 points and 10 rebounds for host Point Loma Nazarene in an NAIA District 3 game.

Stacee Eggers added 15 points and 11 rebounds, Camille Armijo 19 points and eight assists and Christy Stevens 17 on five three-pointers for the Crusaders (19-6). Kristen Bevis scored 23 for SCC (10-19).

In the Big West Swimming & Diving Championships:

UC Irvine Third, Eighth--Pat Keenan finished second in the 500-yard freestyle and Erik Walton did the same in the 50-yard freestyle as the Anteater men trailed UC Santa Barbara and Nevada Las Vegas after the opening day of the three-day meet at Belmont Plaza.

Irvine is last among eight women’s teams. Julie Rydquist’s seventh-place finish in three-meter diving was the best performance by the Anteaters.

In California Coastal Conference men’s basketball:

Pacific Christian 102, Pacific Coast Baptist Bible 92--Phil Garcia had 22 points and Bob Gaskill 20 as Pacific Christian improved to 19-14, 8-3. Jesse Davis had 33 for Pacific Coast Baptist Bible.