January 13, 2006
Box Score
Carson, CA – The Toros would use a strong 18-point first half by Jessica Liang (Alhambra, CA/Mark Keppel HS) and a stronger 21-point second half by Tameka Blue (Watsonville, CA/Santa Cruz HS) to blow out Cal State Stanislaus, 79-56. With the win, the Toros snap their two-game conference losing streak and improve to 7-4, 2-3 CCAA, while the visiting Warriors fall to 5-7, 1-4 CCAA
The Warriors would come out strong and get an early jump on the Toros, building and maintaining a lead over the first 13 minutes of the game. Lindsie Lefort would kick off the scoring for the Warriors with a three-pointer on their first possession, followed shortly by a pair of free throws from Gwendolyn Page for build an early five-point lead.
The Toros offense would begin to heat up as Liang drove to the basket to tie the game at 21-21 with 7:02 remaining. CSUDH would take its first lead of the game a few possessions later on a lay up by Alana Bailey (Altadena, CA/John Muir HS).
Liang would find her stroke from the outside and nail three three-point shots over the last four minutes of play, with her final three coming at the buzzer, three feet behind the 3-point line. Liang would end the first half with 18 points, while going 4-5 from beyond the arc, to lead the Toros into the locker room with a 42-29 lead.
In the second half the Toros would see their lead dwindle as the Warriors came out hot. CSUS would use a 19-6 run in the first seven minutes, capped off by a free throw by Lysandra Williams, to tie the game at 48-48. During the run, Page would lead the comeback with seven points, while Tiare Dvorak would add six points on two three-point shots.
However, the Toros would not let the Warriors complete their comeback, as Brittney Blankenship (Palmdale, CA/Palmdale HS) would follow a Toro missed jumper and score a tough basket in the paint to put the CSUDH up three.
Blue would then slowly extend the Toros lead, getting to the free throw line and hitting eight free throws over a span of six minutes to give the Toros a 68-53 lead with just 4:15 to go.
As the time counted down, the Toros lead continued to grow, reaching 23 points on a lay up by Brandi McGinest (Long Beach, CA/Kansas University), and time would expire with that lead intact.
Page and Lefort would lead the Warriors with six rebounds apiece and 11 and 10 points, respectively. Latricia Nickelberry also chipped in eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds in the effort.
In addition to Blue's 29 points, including a stellar 18-for-19 performance from the foul line, Liang contributed 21 points, including 6-8 from the three-point line, and seven rebounds. Alana Bailey and Blankenship also scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Blue would set two Toro single game records in the contest, with her 18 made free throws breaking the previous record of 13 set by Tracee Lewis, while her 19 attempted free throws breaking the old record of 16 set by Zipporah Chase.
The Toros continue their conference homestand tomorrow as they take on the Wildcats of Chico State. Tip off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Torodome.
